Big boost for young TT players in Kandy

With a view to enhancing the skills of young table tennis players in the Central Province, the Kandy District Table Tennis Association has started pool practices under the guidance of a reputed panel of coaches. The training sessions are being conducted ith a view to getting them ready for the senior National and Junior National tournaments which will be held in early January 2008.

The following players have been included in the pools. Under 10 (girls)- Upeka Jayaratne (Girls High School), Nisansala Ratnayake (Our Lady's School). Chaturika Gamage, Bimsara Kolamunna Jinaraja (MV) Malsha Dangolla, Sumali Molligoda (Viharamahadevi)

Boys Prasad de Silva, Savindu Jayasekera, Thilina Wijesiri and Upalanka Kumarasinghe (Vidyartha) Anuja Nimesh (Kingswood) Sanka Wimalasiri (Dharmaraja)

Under 12 (girls) Hiruni Nayakaratne, Ridmi Kandana Arachchi (Mahamaya), Vinoli Silva, Praveena Silva (Girls High School), Rasangi Gunawardena, Kaveesha Udukumbura (St. Anthony's Convent)

Boys: Udaya Ranasinghe, Akhila Dodankotuwa, Krishan Wickremaratne (Vidyartha), PC Tennekoon (Dharmaraja), Deshan Bandara, Samith Vishwajaya (Kingswood)

Under 15 girls Yonali Dullewa, Dhanushika Gunawardena (Mahamaya) Hasini Ratnayake (Pushpadana).
Boys Prabodhana Rodrigo, P. Chari (St. Anthony's)

A.M.D. Athauda (Dharmarajaya), VK Hewage, M. Singaarachchi (Kingswood), D. Ratnamalala (Trinity)

Under 18 (girls) Nimeshi Wijesekera, Ruvini Jayasekera (Pushpadana), Dinithi Kariyawasam (G.H.S)

Boys: Gayan Rajangapathi, Shenal Senaratne (Kingswood), M.D. Hameed (St. Anthony's) S. Samarasekera (Dharmaraja), M. Siraj (Trinity), Gavin Dayanga (Ranabima Royal).

Women: Kalpani Herath (M.AS. Holdings).], Shanika Silva (G.H.S.), Nirmani Silva (G.H.S), Ruvini Weerasekera, D. Samarasinghe, Nadini Samaraweera, Heshani Wickremasinghe, Chandima Madushani (Mahamaya), Sachi Tennekoon, Upeka Kotinkaduwa (MAS Holdings). Men: G.M. Liyanage, Sukhitha Wickremanayake, Rajitha Samaraweera (Dharmaraja), Kithsiri Weerasekera, R. wickremaratne (Trinity), J.S. Cooray (St. Anthony's), Hasitha Bandara (Dharmaraja), B.N.B. Jayasinghe (M.A.S.Holdings), A.C. Thilakaratne, C.P. Liyanage.

The panel of coaches comprises - Mahinda Ellepola, L.B. Dissanaike, Gamini Silva, Chaminda Rodrigo, Buddika Dikkumbura. While on the subject of table-tennis, it may be in order to mention the names of the new national selection committee. It reads-
Fikri Fauz (Chairman)
Dilshan Seneviratne
Manzil Muthalib.
Swarna Pieris
Jayasiri Ittapana.