The Sri Lanka table tennis team for the Asian Championship. Seated from left: Chameera Ginige (University of Sri Jayewardenepura), Chathura Dushan, (coach), Ravindra Jeewantha (trainer and physio), Ishara Madurangi (Sri Lanka Ports Authority). Standing from left: Senura Silva (Ananda College), Nimesh Ranchagoda (Navy), Milinda Lakshitha (OMBC Solutions), Imantha Udanjaya (Army), Bimandee Bandara (Hillwood College), Muthumali Priyadarshani (Navy) and Thanushi Rodrigo (Army)
Sri Lanka’s table tennis players left the island on Friday to contest the 25th Asian Championships in Doha, Qatar brimming with confidence.
The championship will be played from September 28 to October 5 and the players will be quarantined before the event.
“We had a good residential training program for nearly two weeks at the Torrington Sport Complex with coach Chathura Dushan”, said Sri Lanka team captain Ishara Madurangi.
Madurangi the most experienced paddler from Sri Lanka Ports Authority further said they couldn’t play tournaments or do regular training due to Covid 19 but the Table Tennis Association of Sri Lanka ( TTASL) conducted three domestic tournaments as well as two trials before this Asian event.
“Actually this Asian meet is more important as qualification for the 2022 World Team Championships scheduled to be held from November 23 to 29 in the USA. If Sri Lanka could end up among the first 16 at this Asian meet we will qualify for the world event and that is our target’, said Madurangi.
In 2019 the Sri Lanka men’s team was placed 23rd while the women’s team was placed 15th to enter the world championship and Madurangi was among the players.
“We have a two day quarantine period in Qatar and we all knew this is going to be very tough for us as all leading Asian countries such as China, Japan, Malaysia, Indonesia and Hong Kong will take part. We could get some good exposure from this event,” said Madurangi.
Madurangi is a South Asian silver and bronze medalist and the youngsters in the team are Senura Silva, Bimandee Bandara, Muthumali Priyadharshani and Thanushi Rodrigo. Senura and Bimandee are still at school.
The Sri Lanka team will contest the men’s and women’s doubles, mixed doubles and the men’s and women’s singles. .