Sri Lankan paddlers excelled at the South Asian Junior and Cadet Table Tennis Championships in Male, Maldives when they bagged four silver medals and five bronze medals during this three day event which concluded on Thursday .Sri Lankan team arrived home yesterday (12) night in a jubilant mood and they were given a warm welcome by Table Tennis Association of Sri Lanka
(TTASL) Secretary Reza Latiff was at the Katunayake Airport The juniors were satisfied with bronze and silver medals during the country's most difficult time. In the individual events played on the last day Sri Lankan under 19 boys doubles pair Dhanushka Wijesinghe and Chanul Dilshan won the silver medal. In the boys under 19 final Ankur Bhattacharjee/Patil Deepit Rajesh of India defeated Sri Lankan pair Dhanushka and Chanul 3/0(11-8, 11-4, 11-9).
Meanwhile Sri Lankan girls under 19 pair Bimandee Bandara and Ayla Chitty lost to Indian pair Suhana Saini/Yashaswini Ghorpade 3-11,5- 11,9-11 and Bimandee and Ayla had to be satisfied with a silver medal. Sri Lankan three under 15 players Janith Batugedera the Royal College 13 year old paddler who is ranked number two at the under 15 category won the bronze medal at the singles event while Lesanya Sethumade the captain of the Sri Lanka under 15 girls team won the bronze medal at the individual event .
The 16 year old Bimandee Bandara was the most successful Sri Lankan paddler winning under 19 singles bronze medal addition to her doubles silver medal and she alsoa key member of the under 19 silver medal winning team Apart from this individual event medals Sri Lanka earlier won under 15 boys and girls team event bronze medals while Under 19 team event silver medals. Buddika Dikkumbura and Lakshan Harshana went on this tour as coaches. At this tournament 12 gold medals were on offer while the Indian boys and girls wrapped up their outing with 11 of them once again dominating the tournament with their power. However India didn't take part in the under 19 boys team event. Sri Lanka had to be satisfied with silver and bronze but most disappointing was under 15 paddlers were unable to get silver medals and even they lost to Maldives. Sri Lankan should realise at the South Asian level they have to able to reach finals and fight for the gold and this time we didn't see about this level said former National TT player who is away in overseas for coaching.
Sri Lanka winning silver and bronze is nothing special at South Asian level but obtaining bronze medal is not a good achievement.
He also pointed out the preparation was very poor for this tournament ,selection issues and coaches fight to go on the tour inability to organise a training camp for this tour and until the last moment financial problems to go in this tour but all these are not excuses for the final result said a former National player who is overseas coaching.
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