Sharmal clinches men’s open title

By M. Shamil Amit

Top seeded player Sharmal Dissanayake clinched the Clay Court Tennis Nationals singles title on Thursday (23) with a convincing straight sets 6/4, 6/2 win over defending champion Dineshkanthan Thangarajah in the final played at the SLTA tennis courts in Greenpath, Colombo yesterday.

Sharmal who came in as the hot favorite to lift the title had little difficulty in brushing off the Thangarajah's challenge.

In two other finals that were played in the girls' and boys' categories defending champion Heshani Imanga Thalaghahage of Gateway College Negombo pulling off a comfortable 6/2, 6/1 against Hasali Gajabi to retain the Under 14 girls’ singles title while Royalist Thehan Wijemanne coasted to an easy 6/4, 7/6 win over Nelaka Dissanayake to clinch the Under 16 boys' title.

Results:

Finals:
Singles:
Girls Under 14 – Heshani Imanga Thalaghahage beat Hasali Gajaba  2-0 (6/2, 6/1)
Boys Under 16 – Thehan Wijemanne beat Nelaka Dissanayake 2-0 (6/4, 7/6).
Men’s Open – Sharmal Dissanayake beat Dineshkanthan Thangarajah 2-0 (6/4, 6/2).