Former Sri Lankan table tennis captain Rohan Sirisena decided to retire from the game at the age of 39 having played for 25 years and won many medals at local and international tournaments.
He was the number one ranked player in 2007, 2009, 2010, 2011 and 2013 and dropped to rank four at the time of his retirement.
“Although I can still play well I know that I can’t gain anything new so I have decided to retire to give way to a younger player,” said Sirisena who began playing in 1996. Sirisena started playing table tennis at St. John’s College Nugegoda under coach Sanjeewa Mendis.
Though there was a lack of facilities at St. John’s, Sirisena ended up as the most accomplished player the school had produced. He then moved to Royal College from where he gained more recognition in the game.
Sirisena was only 14 years when he was among the best nine paddlers in the country. He was under the guidance of former National champion Jothipala Samaraweera and Veediya Bandara who saw that he developed his skills further.
Besides STAG company came up with a sponsorship package.
Sirisena represented Sri Lanka at the South Asian Games, Asian Games, Commonwealth Games and the World TT Championships. He led the Sri Lanka team at the third Lusofornia Games held in India in 2014 and returned with the bronze medal.
He was able to win silver medals at the South Asian Games in 2006, 2010 and 2016 which were his best achievements.