70 paddlers selected for Asian TTU training programme

BY SUSIL PREMALAL

The Table Tennis association of Sri Lanka (TTASL) will commence training for juniors (Under 15 and 19) and senior ranked players in the Provinces of Ambalangoda, Colombo, Kandy and Jaffna from July 24.

The training is funded by the Asian Table Tennis Union (ATTU) under their programme ‘Aim for the Stars.’ The TTASL hopes to continue these sessions for a period of five months from the grant allotted by the ATTU. Training was to commence in April 2021, a week after the Sinhala and Tamil New year but was kept on hold since the increase of Covid cases in the country.

Due to the lockdown in May, the programme was postponed indefinitely to commence once it would be safe to conduct sports activities again, as per the guidance of the Ministry of Health. A total of 70 players will benefit from these four training camps. Sixteen players (9 girls, 7 boys) will train in Colombo, 14 players (5 girls, 9 boys) in Kandy and 20 players (11 girls, 9 boys) in Ambalangoda.

These players are selected from the latest ranking list of 2021. Details of 20 players (10 girls, 10 boys) from Jaffna are to be provided by the Provincial Association. The programme has received its blessings from the TTASL Executive Committee headed by Kanaka Herath, the President of the TTASL. The training will be handled by ITTF qualified coaches of Level 3 and above. This is an initiative of the Coaching and Development Committee of the TTASL headed by Namal Gunasekera.

FOLLOWING ARE THE PLAYERS

Colombo

Girls: Jithara Warnakulasuriya (Ladies
College), Ayala Chitty (Ladies College),
Chamathsara Fernando (Moratuwa
University), Oneli Lehansa (Musaeus
College), Tharindi Perera (Vihara Maha
Devi, Kiribathgoda), Minna Hasim (Ladies
College), Shenali Mendis (Musaeus College),
Sandinthi Jayasinghe (Musaeus College),
Shamalsha Dewmi (Holy Cross, Gampaha).

Boys: Nimesh Ranchagoda (Royal
College), Thisas Ranchagoda (Royal
College), Vinuka Gunawardena (Royal
College), Janith Batugedara (Royal
College), Dewmeth Weerasena (Lyceum
International), Kakeru Hennayaka (Ananda
College), Thisum Gamage (Ananda College).

Kandy

Girls: Thanushi Rodrigo (Mahamaya
BV), Kavindi Sahabandu (Fontera Brands),
Chameesha Thushadi (Kegalu Balika
Vidyalaya), Navindi Senevirathna (Kegalu
Balika Vidyalaya), Sadunya Eshmini (Kegalu
Balika Vidyalaya).

Boys: B.N.B. Jayasinghe (MAS), Prasad
de Silva (RDA), Chandupa Alahakoon
(Kingswood College), Dhanushka
Wijesinghe (Kingswood College), Yasiru
Meleesha (Vidyartha College), Hasitha
Udara (Kingswood College),Matheesha
Wickramanayaka (Dharmaraja College),
Akeshe Dimantha (Vidyartha College),
Saifulla Akram (Hill Country International).

Ambalangoda

Girls: Erandhi Warusavithana (Raigam
PL), Kavishka Kavindi (Dharmasoka
College), Sanduni Prabuddhika
(Dharmasoka College), Maneesha Shalindi
(Dharmasoka College), Nadithi Rehansa
(Prajapathi BMV), Heshi Nirmi (Prajapathi
BMV), D H Kolambage (Dharmasoka
College), Minduli Dihansa (Dharmasoka
College), Lesanya Sethumdee (Dharmasoka
College), Divya Darani (Dharmasoka
College), Tamadhi Kavindya (Devananda
College).

Boys: Supuna Warusavithana (University
of Moratuwa), Imantha Udanjaya (Army),
Chanul Dulsen (Dharmasoka College),
Hiruna Warusawithana (Ananda College),
Vihandu Randina (Dharmasoka College),
Gesandu Peiris (Dharmasoka College),
Hasira Dinusara (Dharmasoka College),
Senash Parinda (Dharmasoka College),
Hareen Nimdinu (Dharmasoka College).