Sri Lanka win two titles at ITF Junior Championships

Sanjaya Ariyaratne

Host Sri Lanka took away two titles - boys singles title and boys doubles title, out of four events at the 25th International Tennis Federation Junior Championships worked off at the SSC, Courts, Colombo, recently.

Guyanaga Weerasekara was the top performer of the event where he completed a double by winning the boys singles and boys doubles.

In the boys singles final Weerasekara scored a stunning win over seed number six Elliot Barnwell of Britain (2/6, 7/5, 6/3).

Weerasekara partnered by Upasama Hewacottage created a major upset when they beat bottom seeds Michael Siyaguna and Dineshkantha Thangaraja in a three setter final to win the boys doubles event.

In the semi finals the former had the better of the top seeds Vyas Vidhan (India) and Yam Chun Ming (Hong Kong) (6/2,3/6,6/3) while Siyaguna and Thangaraja beat the Thailand duo of Prajoubphanis Kriangkrai and Suecharoenkij Kriangkrai (6/7, 6/2, 6/4).

Minami Hshizume (Japan) ended the promising run of the top seed Jithmie Jayawickrame in a straight sets triumph (6/4,6/2) to be crowned as girls singles champion.

Sri Lanka missed another title when Jithmie Jayawickrame and Adelle Boey went down to the Japan duo of Yoko Nagai and Minami Hasizvme in the girls doubles final (6/4,6/2).

In the semi final Jayawickrame and Adella created a sensation when they beat top seeds Susitha Das partnered by Shwetha Rana of neighbouring India (2/6,6/3,6/4) while the winners beat Amritha Muttiah and Natalla Khaniejo (6/4,6/1) in the other semi final.