Crown princess Anjalika wins a double at 106th Colombo Tennis Open

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Aahil Kaleel

Young tennis sensation Anjalika Kurera of Ave Maria Convent, Negombo, bagged a double crown while Chathurya Nilaweera of Stafford International School, almost clinched a double in the 106th Colombo Open Tennis Championship, which is still in progress at the Sri Lanka Tennis Association courts in Green Path, Colombo.

Anjalika won the Women’s Singles and Under-18 Girls’ Singles titles rather comfortably, as she won both finals in straight sets with ease. She beat Neyara Weerawansa in the Women’s Singles final 2-0, while overcoming Vishmi Serasinghe in the Under-18 Girls Singles final.

In the Women’s Singles final, Anjalika beat Neyara by 6/4 and 6/0 after defeating Tuvini de Alwis in straight sets in the semi-final. Neyara had to battle it out in the other semi-final before beating fancied Savini Jayasuriya 2-1.

Chathurya, 16, easily overcame Dilvan Herath 4-1, 4-1 in the Under-18 Boys Singles final to continue his winning spree at top level. The Davis Cup team member, earlier defeated Hasal Ahangama 4-0, 4-2 in the semi-finals after beating Wenuka Kithnula in the quarter-finals.

Anjalika, an experienced player with national exposure from Negombo, had little trouble to defeat Vishmi Serasinghe 4-2, 4-2 to clinch the Under-18 Girls Singles title. She experienced a three-setter in the semi-finals against Hasali Gajaba, before securing the slot in the final with scores of 2-4, 4-1, 4-1. Earlier in the quarter-finals, Anjalika recorded a comfortable 2-0 win against Neyara Weerawansa, whom she met again in the Women’s Singles final.

Thehan Wijemanne of Royal College had the better off Chathurya in the Men’s Singles final, as he progressed to record a thrilling win after a close contest. Thehan, 17, won the first set, but Chathurya equalised in the following set, taking the game to a decider set, which went down to the wire. Eventually Thehan managed to cling on to the win, preventing Chathurya a possible and deserving double crown.

Vichintaya Nilaweera and Vishmi Serasinghe bagged the Under-16 Boys and Girls Singles titles respectively while the Under-14 Boys and Girls Singles titles were won by Methwan Wijemanne and Dinara de Silva. Aahil Kaleel and Githmi Fernando bagged the Under-12 Singles titles for Boys and Girls respectively.

Results

Singles

Men’s Singles: Thehan Wijemanne beat Chathurya Nilaweera (6/4, 4/6, 10/7)

Semi-finals: Thehan Wijemanne beat Archana Lokuge (6/2, 6/2); Chathurya Nilaweera beat Vibuda Wijebandra (6/1, 6/2)

Women’s Single: Anjalika Kurera beat Neyara Weerasansa (6/4, 6/0)

Semi-finals: Anjalika Kurera beat Tuvini de Alwis (6/1, 6/1); Neyara Weerawansa beat Savini Jayasuriya (6/1, 5/7, 10/7)

Under-18 Boys Singles: Chathurya Nilaweera beat Dhilvan Herath (4/1, 4.1)

Semi-finals: Chathurya Nilaweera beat Hasal Ahangama (4/0, 4/2); Dhilvan Herath beat Zaidh Zihar 4/1, 4/2)

Under-18 Girls Singles: Anjalika Kurera beat Vishmi Serasinghe (4/2, 4/2)

Semi-finals: Anjalika Kurera beat Hasali Gajaba (2/4, 4/1, 4/1); Vishmi Serasinghe beat Dinethya Dharmaratne (5/3, 4/0)

Under-16 Boys Singles: Vichintaya Nilaweera beat Venuka Kithnula (0/4 5/3 10/8)

Semi-finals: Vichinthaya Nilaweera beat Zaidh Zihar (4/2, 4/0); Venuka Kithnula beat Thilina Dissanayake (4/1, 4/0)

Under-16 Girls Singles: Vishmi Serasinghe beat Saajida Razick (5/4, 4/1)

Semi-finals: Vishmi Serasingle beat Hasali Gajaba (2/4, 5/4, 10/5); Saajida Razick beat Dinethya Dharmaratne (4/1, 4/1)

Under-14 Boys Singles: Methwan Wijemanne beat Danushka Dias (5/3, 4/2)

Semi-finals: Methwan Wijemanne beat Sandas Usgodaarachchi (4/2, 2/4, 10/5); Danushka Dias beat Kavindu Sawmya (4/2, 4/1)

Under-14 Girls Singles: Dinara de Silva beat Gehansa Methnadi (4/2, 4/1)

Semi-finals: Dinara de Silva beat Oneli Samarawickrama (4/1, 1/4, 10/7); Gehara Methnadi beat Charuni Thomas (0/4, 4/2, 10/7)

Under-12 Boys Singles: Aahil Kaleel beat Methika Wickramasinghe (1/4, 4/2, 10/7)

Semi-finals: Aahil Kaleel beat Chamidu Abeysinghe (4/2, 4/0); Methika Wickramasinghe beat Sasen Premaratne (4/1, 5/4)

Under–12 Girls Singles: Githmi Fernando beat Gehansa Methnadi (1/4 4/1 10/8)

Semi-finals: Githmi Fernando beat Akeesha Silva (5/3, 2/4, 10/1); Gehansa Methnadi beat Devhara Fernando (4/1, 4/1)
Doubles

Under-18 Girls Doubles: Oneli Perera/Tania Doloswala beat Hasali Gajaba/Minuki Wanniarachchi (4/2, 1/4, 10/5)

Semi-finals: Oneli/Tania beat Dahamna Warnasuriya/Netini Jayasuriya (4/0, 5/4); Hasali/Minuki beat Dewmini Warnasuriya/ Nishka Vivekanandan (2/4, 4/2, 10/4)

Under-16 Boys Doubles: Thilina Dissanayake/Nithila Goonatilleke beat Methvan Wijemanne/Lisal Goonatilleke (5/3, 4/2)

Semi-finals: Thilina/Nithila beat Chenul Wickramasinghe/Saahil Fazil (4/0, 4/0); Methvan/Lisal beat Thisanda Bellanaarachchi/Manesh Kajan (4/0, 2/4, 10/7)

Under-16 Girls Doubles: Saajida Razick/Dinra de Silva beat Dinethya Charmaratne/Anithra Dharmaratne (5/3, 4/2)

Semi-finals: Saajida/Dinara beat Inuki Jayaweera/Melasha Randini 4/0, 4/1); Dinethya/Anithra beat Senulya Wijayawardane/Binudi Wijayawardane (4/0, 0/4, 10/8)

Under-14 Boys Doubles: Abdul Basith/Dhanushka Dias beat Kavindu Sawmya/Ganuka Fernando (4/2, 5/3)

Semi-finals: Abdul/Dhanushka beat Nuran Wickramasinghe/Yuthila Hettiarachchi (4/1, 5/4); Kavindu/Ganuka beat Aweesh Ganegoda/Kenuka Geeganage (Rtd)

Under-14 Girls Doubles: Gehansa Methnadi/Githmi Fernando beat Ralindee Mallawaarachchi/Hesara Nisindee (4/1, 4/2)

Semi-finals: Gehansa/Githmi beat Hesandee Mallawaarachchi/Gianna Perera (4/1, 4/0); Ralindee/Hesara beat Akeesha Silva/Movindi Fernando (4/2, 0/4, 10/6)