Sri Lanka’s top-ranked tennis player Dinara de Silva and her teammate Lisal Goonethilleke notched up impressive victories in the First Round, beating India in their debut matches of the First Week of the ITF Junior Circuit Colombo, Sri Lanka held at the Sinhalese Sports Club courts, commencing yesterday.
De Silva, representing St Bridget’s Convent, dominated her Indian opponent Apeksha Leddy, clinching a convincing 2-0 victory in a two-set game with scores of 6-1 and 6-1.
In the boys’ category, Sri Lanka’s Goonethilleke engaged in a fiercely contested match against India’s Saatvi Ashwing, ultimately emerging triumphant with a 2-0 victory. The scores stood at 7-5 and 6-2 in favour of the Sri Lankan player.
On the girls’ side, Yu Chinge Wang of Chinese Taipei delivered a commanding performance, defeating India’s Radha Sadmra in straight sets with scores of 6-1 and 6-0.
However, Sri Lanka’s Venuli Jayasinhge, representing Maliyadeva Girls College, faced a setback in her match against India’s Anand Sing. Despite a strong showing in the first set, Jayasinhge succumbed to a 4-6, 0-6 defeat.
In another boys’ division match, Yen Chux Wang of Chinese Taipei outclassed Wan Him Donovan of Hong Kong with a flawless performance, securing a 6-0, 6-0 victory.
The tournament, featuring players from 12 countries, is the fourth ITF tournament of seven tournaments organized by the Sri Lanka Tennis Association (SLTA) annually. This Under-18 event serves as a crucial stepping stone for junior players, providing valuable experience and exposure.
Sajeewa Jayakody