Chanul and Bimandee named Best Players with double crowns at 79th TT Nationals
View(s):Chanul Dulsen and Bimandee Bandara claimed double crowns at the 79th National Table Tennis Championship, which concluded at the Indoor Sports Complex in Bandaragama last weekend. Chanul was adjudged the Best Male Player of the tournament while Bimandee easily became the choice as Best Female Player, following her consistency.
Men’s Open Singles winner Chanul, a past pupil of Dharmasoka College, Ambalangoda, represented Old Sokians Sports Club at the nationals, while Bimandee of Hillwood College, Kandy, remained unbeaten to safeguard her position as the country’s top ranked female paddler following her outstanding performance to become the Women’s Open Singles champion.
Bimandee claimed her sixth national women’s title after defeating Tamadi Kavindya of Sri Devananda College, Ambalangoda in the after overcoming Lesanya Sethumdee of Dharmasoka College, Ambalangoda in the semi-final. Losing finalist Tamadi, won her semi-final outing against Yohani Jayawardena of Mahamaya Girls’ School, Kandy.
Meanwhile Chanul won his maiden national men’s title with the win against Nimesh Ranchagoda of Sysco Labs in the final. In the semi-finals Chanul defeated Imantha Udayanga of Sri Lanka Army while Nimesh beat Shafiullah Akram of Trinity College. Kandy.
Men’s Doubles final was won by Chameera Ginige and Chanul, who went on to defeat Umesh Niluminda and Imantha Udanjaya of Sri Lanka Army while Bimandee and Sadinthi Jayasinghe of Musaeus College defeated Samalsha Dewmi and Oneli Lihansa of Musaeus College to claim the Women’s Doubles title.
The Mixed Doubles title was won by Chamira Ginige of Sri Jayewardenepura University and Lesanya Sethumdee of Dharmasoka College, Ambalangoda, who teamed up to defeat the duo from hill capital Shafiullah Akram of Trinity College and Bimandee Bandara of Hillwood College.
Chaniru Dinsada of P.de S. Kularatne Maha Vidyalaya won the Men’s Singles consolation final defeating Sanuja Ratiyala of Royal College while in the Women’s Singles consolation final, Muthuli Shahanya of Southlands College, Galle went on to defeat Vinudi Dahamsa of Dharmasoka College, Ambalangoda.