Priyadarshani beats Jithara in a five-setter thriller to win Women’s Singles
Muthumali Priyadarshani of Sri Lanka Navy, beat Jithara Warnakulasooriya of Ladies’ College 3-2 in the Women’s Singles final of the All-Island Table Tennis Tournament played for the Mahipala Herath Challenge Trophy. The tournament was held at the Kegalle Municipal Council Indoor Stadium last week.
Women's champion Muthumali Priyadarshani of Sri Lanka Navy had to face a stiff challenge from Jithara
Priyadarshani did not have an easy outing in the Women’s Singles final against Jithara, who took the decider to a thrilling five-setter. Jithara won the first set 11/8 as Priyadarshani bounced back to level the sets one-all, claiming the second set 11/8.
Jithara retaliated to claim the third set with a comfortable 11/7 win but her hopes of nailing the final coffin in the fourth set and record an early win was thwarted by Priyadarshani, who recorded a thrilling 11/9 win in the penultimate set.
With that, the final and deciding set was expected to become a thrilling battle, but eventually it ended up with a comfortable 11/2 win in favour of Priyadarshani, who walked out victorious.
In the semi-final, eventual winner Priyadarshani recorded a thrilling 3-2 win against the much experienced and favourite Ishara Madurangi of Sri Lanka Ports Authority. She lost the first set 7/11 but won the following two 11/9, 11/6 before Ishara leveled sets 2-2 with a 11/9 win in the fourth set. The final set was played to the wire as the decider fluctuated between the two well established paddlers, but Priyadarshani held her nerves to clinch the set 12/10.
In the other semi-final Jithara had an easy outing against Bimandi Bandara of Hillwood College, Kandy winning in straight sets. The sets ended 11/9, 11/9, 11/6 in favour of Jithara.
Priyadarshani receives the Challenge Trophy
Kanaka Herath, graced the occasion as the chief guest at the finals and distributed certificates to players reaching quarter-finals onwards and gave away the challenge trophies to the winner and runners-up.
Under the leadership of Kanaka Herath, the State Minister of Plantation and the President of Table Tennis Association of Sri Lanka and Kegalle District Table Tennis Association (KDTTA), the Table Tennis Association of Sri Lanka (TTASL) recommenced its events after a long break owing to the COVID-19 pandemic.
Adhering to strict safety measures to safeguard the competing players and match officials, TTASL through KDTTA is currently conducting the annual All-Island Table Tennis Trophy Tournament played for the Mahipala Herath Challenge Trophy.
Owing to close proximity of players, the tournament organisers scrapped the Doubles event and conducted only the Singles events for both Men and Women. The Women’s event was held last Saturday followed by the Men’s event the next day.
The champion and runners-up received their trophies from the chief guest, Kanaka Herath. Also present at the presentation party were Jude Rookantha Perera (Chairman of Chilaw Plantations), Sulakshana Madhana (CEO of MAS Asia), Sameera Perera (VP Kegalle District TTA and Member of the Municipal Council) and Chandana Srinath (Secretary TTASL)