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Wesley Junior Paddlers emerge champs
Wesley junior paddlers emerged champions of the Under 15
Invitation inter-school table tennis tournament which was
organized by Ananda Sastralaya Kotte which ended recently at S.
Thomas’ Mt Lavinia Sports Complex.
The champion team led by Senal Dahanayake comprised Lithmina
Mahanama, Manul de Silva and Wijeratne brothers Matheesha and
Ashen who together combined to outclass host Ananda Sastralaya in
the final 32.
Skipper Dahanayake and Mahanama gave the Welseyites a flying start
by recording wins in their single games when they overcame Pasindu
and Kavishka. This was followed by Dahanayake and Mahanama
partnered by the Wijeratne brothers winning the doubles.
dahanayake paired with Ashen to win the first game 2-1 where they
beat Chathura and Navodh (11/5, 9/11, 11/9).
Mahanama together with Matheesha combined to record a comfortable
2-0 win over Kavishka and Pasindu (11/3, 11/8). In the run up to
the final the Wesleyites beat Dharmapala Pannipitiya (3-0), St
John’s Nugegoda (3-0), Nalanda (3-1), Ananda Sastralaya (3-2) and
DSS 3-0) and then overcame St Peter’s in the semi final.
Meanwhile the Wesley Under 11 had to be satisfied with the second
slot when they lost to Dharmapala Pannipitiya in a close tussle by
3-2 in the final. Promising young paddler Naveesh Mahanama was the
star of the day when he helped his side with two wins (singles and
doubles).
Dharmapala’s Rusiru and Santhisha comfortably beat Sasindu Shihara
and Anuk Fernando respectively in the singles before Naveesh
Mahanama won the first game for Wesley by recording a 2-0 win.
In the first doubles game Shanthisha and Rusiru defeated Anuk and
Kevin Jake 11/4 and 11/6 to win both sets easily. Naveesh and
Sasindu took on Pasan and Jineth in the second doubles outing to
record wins in both sets at 11/8 and 11/2. In the group matches
Wesley beat Ananda Sastralaya while losing to Dharmapala. In the
semifinal Wesley met Nalanda and recorded a win at 3-1.
The Under-13 age group championship was won by Nalanda College who
beat St. Peter’s College in the final. The Wesley table tennis
team is coached by veteran Jothipala Samaraweera.
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