 |
 |
 |
 |
 |
 |
 |
 |
 |
 |
 |
 |
 |
 |
The much-anticipated annual key international event with so much of importance for the country’s tennis will begin tomorrow (13) in Aleppo, one of the most ancient cities in the world –-in fact one of the oldest inhabited cities-- in north Syria, 360kms away from the capital Damascus.
The four-member Sri Lanka team, under captain-cum-manager of this year Aasiri Iddamalgoda, left for Thailand for nearly one week training session. The team, comprising two seasoned campaigners, Rajeev Rajapakse and Harshana Godamanna, and two newcomers, Sankha Atukorale and Guyanga Weerasekera, was to return to Sri Lanka during this weekend before their departure to Syria today.
Sri Lanka’s chances of retaining their Group-III position in the Asia-Oceania Zone is assured, according to Iddamalgoda who has been Sri Lanka’s Davis Cup Non-playing Captain in 2001, after representing the country in Davis Cup by himself in both 1999 and 2000.
"We don’t have a great idea about our opponents this time. True that there are about three difficult oppositions (Iran, Lebanon and Pacific Oceania out of seven other participating nations/regions). In Davis Cup, anything can happen on a given day in a tie. If we do something exceptionally well on such a day (against a tougher opposition), there is a slight chance that we can even get a (Group-II) qualification as well," said Iddamalgoda during his team’s final training session in Colombo last Monday (6).
Otter AC and Trans Asia Prize-giving –
The prize-giving of the ‘Otter Diamond Jubilee Tennis Tournament - 2009,’ another annual open ranking tennis tournament conducted by the Otter Aquatic Club under the auspices of the Sri Lanka Tennis Association (SLTA), was held on Monday (6) at the club premises off Bauddhaloka Mawatha, Colombo-7, with Dr. Peter Hayes, the British High Commissioner in Sri Lanka, as chief guest.
Last year’s Sri Lanka Davis Cup rep Artha Hewacottege and Sri Lanka’s Fed Cup team member, Amritha Muttiah clinched the Open Singles titles in the Men’s and Women’s segments respectively. The Otter annual tennis had attracted a record number of nearly 400 entries this time for 23 main events.
Meanwhile on Wednesday (8), the prize-giving of the ‘Trans Asia Open Ranking Tennis – 2009’ was held at the Earl’s Court hall at Trans Asia hotel, Colombo, with the participation of representatives from the sponsors of the tournament, the Hedges Court, ‘3G Sports,’ agents of ‘Head’ sports goods, and Mobitel. Maxwell de Silva of the SLTA – Interim Committee too was present. Tyronne Perera hosted the presentation.
Trans Asia Open Ranking Tennis – 2009
Results of Finals –
Open Events –
Women’s Open
Singles
Amritha Muttiah bt Thavindra Ekanayake
Doubles
Jithmie Jayawickrema & Mahesha Seneviratne bt Roshenka Fernando & Sherene Wijesinghe
Men’s Open
Singles
Amresh Jayawickrema bt Artha Hewacottege
Doubles
Harshana Godamanna & Sylvester Francis bt Rohan de Silva & A. Hewacottege
Mixed Doubles
M. Seneviratne & A. Hewacottege bt Shalini de Silva & H. Godamanna
Junior Events -
Girls –
Singles
Under-8
Piyumi Wickremasinghe bt Kaumini Navaragodagedera
Under-10
Asalya Bandara bt P. Wickramasinghe
Under-12
Thisuri Molligoda bt Kavindya de Silva
Under-14
Dinushki Ranasinghe bt T. Molligoda
Under-16
Kemalie Herath bt Dhanya Madugalle
Under-18
Sherene Wijesinghe bt Roshenka Fernando
Boys –
Singles
Under-8
Dushan Wijesinghe bt Kevin Assauw
Under-10
Aadavan Pushparaj bt Jerrique Rajapakse
Unde-12
Joshua Jayaratne bt Chehan Fernando
Under-14
Aritha Weerasinghe bt Aaron Assauw
Under-16
M.A. Shaakir bt Chinthaka Shaveen
Under-18
Amresh Jayawickrema bt Eshan Jayamanne
Doubles
Stephan Martin & M.A. Shaakir bt Ashan de Silvas & Thurua Eshwarage
Senior Events –
Men’s Over-35 -
Singles
Upul Priyantha bt Volker Trankmann
Doubles
U. Priyantha & Sylvester Francis bt Himal de Silva & Ajith Fernando
