Sports
SSC Open Tennis Championship attracts over 700 entries
First Capital Holdings PLC has come forward to sponsor the SSC Open Tennis Championship for the third consecutive year. The SSC Open 2024 which commenced on January 6 will run till January 21 at the Sinhalese Sports Club (SSC) tennis courts. The Championship is the first major open ranking tennis tournament for the year 2024. It has attracted 750 entries.
“This year’s championship is special and will be historical, as SSC celebrates 125 years. I am indeed delighted to see the First Capital SSC Open Ranking Championship being the first ranking tournament of the year 2024. Since the first championship was held in the 1980s and revived in the late 1990s, we have been able to provide a platform to some of the finest national players who represented Sri Lanka in many international tournaments. Among our unique features are the highest equal prize money for Men and Women, chair umpires, live TV coverage of the finals and some of the highest standards in facilities for the players and spectators,” said SSC Honorary Secretary Vasantha Wijesekera.
Randinith Madanayake, Head of Marketing at First Capital, emphasized the significance of this partnership, stating, “We are delighted to continue our partnership with SSC for the 3rd consecutive year, and looking forward to an exciting competition. This collaboration is crucial for us as an organization committed to fostering tennis in Sri Lanka—a premium sport loved by many avid sports enthusiasts. We are thrilled to contribute to this cause through one of the most anticipated tournaments in the country, alongside SSC, a renowned club with a strong sporting heritage in Sri Lanka. First Capital’s “Performance-First” ethos perfectly aligns with SSC’s drive to always pursue excellence in every aspect of the game.”
The Championship will be conducted under the purview of the governing body of the sport, the Sri Lanka Tennis Association, and organized by the SSC Tennis House Committee. The Championship continues to maintain the traditions and culture of the Sinhalese Sports Club, a prestigious sporting entity that has contributed to the rise of multiple sporting stars throughout its 125-year journey.
This historical tennis event has gained prominence for its continued efforts to maintain standards. This highly sought tournament has seen young talent showcase their potential in front of ardent crowds who have been mesmerised by their tennis prowess. Their victories have resulted in them becoming household names in the tennis community in Sri Lanka. Some have even used this as a stepping stone in moving on to test their abilities on the international stage.
This year the Championship will comprise Girls and Boys events from under 12 to under 18 (Singles and Doubles), Men’s and Women’s Singles, Doubles, and Mixed Doubles, and Veterans events for over 35, over 45, and over 55 age groups. The tournament will be illuminated with dazzling play from prominent players such as the defending champion Saajida Razick, Davis Cup players Chathurya Nilaweera, Apna Perera and Thehan Wijemanne, Billie Jean King Cup players Vishmi Serasinghe, Dinethya Dharmaratne and Inuki Jayaweera, and rising star Dinara de Silva. This will also be a platform for the junior players to prepare for the upcoming World Juniors, Junior Davis Cup and Junior Billie Jean King Cup events.
Along with First Capital Holding PLC, long-standing supporters of the SSC Open Tennis Championships, 3 G Sports (Head Tennis Balls) and Diesel and Motor Engineering PLC (DIMO) along with Hatton National Bank PLC (HNB) and Perera and Sons (P&S) have continued their support as the Co-Sponsors for this event. YETI Hydration will be the official hydration partner. Shehara Medawala is poised to serve as the tournament referee with Aruna Seneviratne.
Leg-spinner Mason Crane could play for England for the first time in eight years after being recalled for the one-day international tri-series in Pakistan.
The 29-year-old won his only Test cap against Australia in Sydney in 2018 and is now given an opportunity in the series which also involves Sri Lanka next month.
Crane, who also played two T20 internationals in 2017, could also push his case in the fight to be England’s number one spinner in Test cricket.
Sam Curran and Adil Rashid both return after injuries, and uncapped pair James Coles and Henry Crocombe are included.
Jos Buttler is out with the hamstring injury he sustained last week, while Jacob Bethell is continuing his recovery from knee surgery.
Brydon Carse, who is under an investigation from the Cricket Regulator following an incident outside a nightclub in Derby in August, remains absent.
England are on a diet of white-ball cricket until three Tests in South Africa in December as they build up to the 50-over World Cup in southern Africa next year.
The tri-series in Pakistan involves the three teams taking part playing each other twice, with the top two advancing to the final. Following the trip to Pakistan, England play three one-day internationals and five T20s in Australia in November.
As England continue to shape their backroom staff following the arrival of Stephen Fleming as Test coach, Jeetan Patel, Mike Yardy, David Saker and Carl Hopkinson will assist white-ball head coach Brendon McCullum in Pakistan.
That means Marcus Trescothick, who took temporary charge of the Test team for the series against Pakistan in the home summer, misses the trip.
It is understood the make-up of the coaching staff is part of a plan to rotate the coaches – fielding coach Sarah Taylor and fast-bowling coach Tim Southee are also not going to Pakistan.
All of Trescothick, Taylor and Southee are likely to be part of England’s coaching team for other tours this winter.
England squad for tri-series in Pakistan:
Harry Brook (Yorkshire – captain), Gus Atkinson (Surrey), Sonny Baker (Hampshire), Tom Banton (Somerset), James Coles (Sussex), Jordan Cox (Essex), Mason Crane (Glamorgan), Henry Crocombe (Sussex), Sam Curran (Surrey), Liam Dawson (Hampshire), Ben Duckett (Nottinghamshire), Will Jacks (Surrey), Jamie Overton (Surrey), Adil Rashid (Yorkshire), Joe Root (Yorkshire), Josh Tongue (Nottinghamshire).
(BBC)
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