Sports
Mercantile Table Tennis Association of Sri Lanka: 65 Years on
By Eric Motha
Founder member and former president of
Mercantile Table Tennis Association
The Inter Club Championships of the Mercantile Table Tennis Association (MTTA) were successfully conducted in September as a prelude to the Open Championships scheduled for November 2022.
The MTTA has grown in stature and popularity over the passage of time with an array of dedicated officials totally committed to continuing the saga that commenced in the mid 50’s with delegates from the Mercantile Sector and Commercial Banks. It behoves us to recall and remember Messrs. Robin L Rutnam, M. Balaji, AK Nesaratnam, NM Udeshi, Charlie Daniel, Noshir Lakdawalla, C. Paramananthan who guided the destinies of the Association during the formative years. The baton was then handed over to charismatic Chandrakant Mohanlal Vasa whose contribution was unique in many aspects. He will always be remembered with respect and affection by all those who had the fortune of teaming up in implementing several programs during his tenure.
In 1969 history was created when the inaugural “BOUNCING BALL” was organized when Noshir Lakadawalla was president. The event, a first in the Mercantile sector, was revived after a hiatus by energetic Vice President Rodney St. John. It proved the ideal forum for the TT players and guests to join in revelry and camaraderie at the conclusion of the Association’s program. On a sad note Noshir Lakadawalla passed away this year in USA. He held the distinction of having won the National Men’s title whilst as a student at S. Thomas’ College, Mount Lavinia and aged 15.
Vasa possessed a vision for the MTTA and during his Presidency extending over a decade and ushered in a new era with a marked increase in the number of TT players in the Mercantile sector and securing sponsors, a requisite for a viable sports organization. He was ably assisted by a team comprising Rodney St. John, W. Daluwatte, AK Issadeen, Rasakantha Rasiah, Annesley Gomez, Lucian Alles, Leonard Perera, NE Thangarajah, Sarath Gunaratne, Sunimal Salgadoe. Francis Legrand, Austin Fernando, Ajith Gamage, MR Jabir, Sunil Meewewa, Darlon Pereira, DM Munasinghe, Shirley Botejue, ACM Rauff, D’Oliviera, Tony Antonius and Robert Joseph among others. The writer succeeded Vasa at the helm followed by GEP Jayatileke, MR Jabir, Sarath Gunaratne, Ajith Gamage, Rajive Wijetunge, Vimarshana Gammanpila, Sukhita Samarakkody and Chanaka Perera the current President.
It is on record that several officials of the MTTA were elected to serve in the Table Tennis Association of Sri Lanka. They were involved in both Associations and carried out their duties with equal candour and dedication solely motivated by an innate desire to serve. The officials were: Sarath Gunaratne, Rajiva Wijetunge, Lalith Priyantha (Presidents) V. Gammanpila and Ashan Wickramanayake (VP) Ajith Gamage, Reza Latiff and Dhananjaya Dharmarathne (Secretary) and Gamunu Prabath (Asst. Treasurer)
It is a matter of pride that the MTTA had through the decades produced a galaxy of players who emerged as national champions and ranked players and represented the country at international tournaments with success: NM Udeshi, Charlie Daniel, Chrys Gunaratne, Noshir Lakdawalla, Paul Thambinayagam, RK Singham, K Arichandran, KC Chandraraj, Pesi Pestonjee, Annesley Gomez, Suresh Melvani, Ashok Melvani, Angelo Santiago, Rasakantha Rasiah. Sarath Gunaratne, MB De Silva, Ramesh Dharamdas, George Van Hoff, I Jayasiri, Lalith Priyantha, Shabbar and Shabbir Hussain,WA Buddhasiri,Nihal Gunaratne, Lalith PereraThilina Piyadasa, Nirmala Jayasinghe, KST Chalitha Rangana, Chameera Ginige.
Belle Weerakoon, Cuckoo Fonseka, Nandini Daniel, Srini Lucas, Carol Rudolph, Swarna Peiris, Namal Gunasekera, Shyamalee Dias, Tamara Hewage, Kalpani Herath, Srimali Wimalaratne, Deepika Kotinkaduwa, Saranga De Silva, Sachie Tennekoon. My apologies for omissions, if any.
Thilina Piyadasa has annexed the National Men’s Championship for a record seven times.
Rajiva Wijetunge holds a prolific record as an administrator, selector and player having participated in MTTA tournaments for 40 years and helped Ceylon Tobacco and MAS Holdings to win the ‘A’ Division Championships on several occasions. He won the Veterans Singles Championship too. Rajiva holds the record of being the 1st Sri Lankan to win a Medal for TT at the World Masters Games held in Canada in 2006. He also won medals for Sri Lanka with creditable performances at the World Masters and Masters Championships in South Africa and New Zealand adding to his laurels. The Association had the privilege and patronage of sponsors and Vice Patrons since its inception. Messrs. M. Balaji, NM Udeshi. AK Nesaratnam, Ana Punchihewa, Dr. IA Ismail, LCR Wijetunge, Inayet Akberally, Aloy Ratnayake and Chandrakant Vasa made a significant contribution.
Sukhita Samarakkody during his term as President organized a very successful Awards Night. The tradition will continue with the Colours Awards ceremony scheduled for December 10, 2022 under the chairmanship of Chanaka Perera, the current President.
Rajiva Wijetunge, Ajith Gamage and M Ruzaik Jabir teamed up well with Vimarshana Gammanpila, Sukitha Samarakkody and the incumbent President who followed them in office with their advice and necessary assistance in furthering the activities of the MTTA with diligence and commitment. The amalgam between the MTTA and TTASL was a key factor in the smooth functioning of both sports bodies. It is encouraging to learn that this partnership in promoting Table Tennis at the Mercantile and National levels proved a great success.
Rex Clementine
in Port Elizabeth
Fast bowler Lahiru Kumara bowled with fire and picked up two wickets in the morning session in the second Test against South Africa and in the process became only the fifth Sri Lankan quick to claim 100 Test wickets. South Africa after losing three for 44, recovered thanks to a 133 run partnership between Ryan Rickelton and Temba Bavuma and were 179 for four at tea.
Kumara, who started the game on 99 wickets cleaned up Aiden Markram with a delivery that swung back in. He then had Tristan Stubbs caught behind by Kusal Mendis to put South Africa in trouble.
Asitha Fernando, meanwhile, was on the money dismissing Tony de Zorzi with his first delivery in the game. Operating from the Duck Port End, Asitha sent down a yorker which the batter wasn’t able to keep away and was given out leg before wicket.
The third wicket partnership between Bavuma and Rickelton, making a comeback to the side, was threatening when Asitha came back for a fresh spell and dismissed the South African captain five minutes before tea.
Bavuwa was tested by a barrage of short, pitched bowling and he survived twice attempting to take on the bowler, but eventually gloved one to the wicketkeeper to depart for 78.
Rickelton carried on regardless and was unbeaten on 72.
South Africa opted to bat first after winning the toss and Sri Lanka’s bowlers toiled hard with the pitch offering little help for the bowlers.
Sri Lanka were contemplating to go with an all seam attack as the curators had left quite a bit of grass on the pitch. However, in the morning of the Test, they opted to play the same eleven that featured in Durban retaining left-arm spinner Prabath Jayasuriya.
Jayasuriya bowled with control but couldn’t pick up a wicket.
Sri Lanka had a disastrous start to the series when they were bowled out for 42 in Durban. It is their lowest total ever in Test match cricket. Although they fared much better in the second innings, South Africa went onto complete comprehensive win with a day to spare.
The loss pushed Sri Lanka to number four in the points table of the World Test Championship and they badly need a win in Port Elizabeth to keep their chances alive in the WTC.They have got two more Tests in Galle against Australia in the cycle, but another defeat in South Africa will make their chances to go through to Lord’s next June difficult.
Under 19 Cricket
by Reemus Fernando
Spinners Thathsara Eshan and Poorna Kalhara shared nine wickets between them to rattle St. Servatius’ for 64 runs as Gurukula registered a six wickets victory in the Under 19 traditional cricket encounter at Uyanwatta Stadium on Thursday.
After speedster Tharusha Kodikara led the pace attack to reduce the home team to 97 runs, spinners took bowling honours on day two rattling St.Servatius’ to their lowest total this season.
Gurukula needed just 12 overs to score the win need. It is the first outright victory registered by Gurukula this season.
Scores
St. Servatius’ 97 all out in 45 overs (Raveen Kavintha 19, Sanju Dilshan 18; Tharusha Kodikara 6/31, Poorna Kalhara 2/16) and no runs for no loss overnight 64 all out in 27 overs (Chamarindu Nethsara 15, Sanju Dilshan 15; Thathsara Eshan 5/27, Poorna Kalhara 4/15)
Gurukula 128 all out in 42 overs (Denura Dimansith 30, Janith Mihiranga 24; Praveen Madusanka 4/38, Jayaru Ekanayake 2/12, Iwan Zholobitskyi 2/16) and 34 for 4 in 12 overs (Denura Dimansith 15n.o.; Jayaru Ekanayake 3/18)
Division I Tier ‘B’
De Mazenod on first innings at Bandaragama
Scores
De Mazenod 188 for 8 overnight 201 all out in 61.2 overs (Sharith Sudeena 64, Praneeth Vithanage 26, Geenod Perera 31; Rusith Jayawardana 3/41, Bihanga Silva 4/30) and 33 for 5 in 12.2 overs (Sharith Sudeena 25; Bihanga Silva 3/16, Mevindu Kumarasiri 2/01)
Sri Sumangala 195 all out in 64.4 overs (Duranka Silva 37, Rusith Jayawardana 19, Senira Wijegunasinghe 28; Sharith Sudeena 4/68, Kaveen Nethmina 2/36)
St. Aloysius’ take first innings advantage at Karandeniya
Scores
Isipatana 84 all out in 32.4 overs (Ranmith Senarath 30; Dulsath Nimviru 3/22, Emalsha Pabasara 3/37, Kavindu Kesara 3/17) and 14 for 2 in 11.4 overs (Dulsath Nimviru 2/06)
St. Aloysius’ 160 all out in 50.5 overs (Vinod Danushka 65, Tharuka Perera 36, Charya Paranavithana 29, Navidu Pramod 22; Dasith Senal 5/41, Thithira Sansira 3/09)
Division I Tier ‘A’
Mahanama restrict St. Anthony’s to 208 runs at Mattegoda
Scores
St. Anthony’s Katugastota 208 all out in 66 overs (Kaushika Kumarasinghe 28, Anjana Dineth 22, Nedan Ebert 30, Januka Rathnayake 25, Charuka Ekanayake 65; Anuka Wijewardhane 3/78, Sithum Vihanga 3/26, Gimantha Dissanayake 2/30)
Mahanama 25 for 2 in 15.3 overs (Dulneth Algawatte 19)
Latest News
Rickelton’s maiden ton propels South Africa but Asitha, Kumara ensure opening day is evenly shared
Ryan Rickelton scored first Test century in his eighth Test and became the eighth batter in the team to bring up a hundred in 2024 on an evenly shared day at St George’s Park.
After choosing to bat first in blustery conditions, South Africa teetered on 44 for 3 in the morning session but a 133-run fourth wicket stand between Rickelton and Temba Bavuma who brought up his third successive score over fifty, saw them take control. They were rocked again at 186 for 5 but Rickelton and Kyle Verreynne put on 77 for the sixth-wicket to re-steady them. Sri Lanka came back with two late wickets in the day and will eye dismissing South Africa for under 300 and making the most of what are expected to be good batting conditions on day two.
Sri Lanka, who wanted to bowl first on a surface with a significant grass covering, and got their wish despite losing the toss, will feel fairly pleased with their performance, especially as their seamers asked plenty of questions. Asitha Fernado and Vishwa Fernando found just enough movement upfront whileLahiru Kumara was used effectively in bursts and all three were threatening with the short ball. They were not helped by two chances being put down and a few others falling short but on what is usually a good batting surface on the first day, they should not be too displeased with their efforts.
Brief scores:[Stumps]
South Africa 269 for 7 in 86.3 overs (Ryan Rickelton 101, Temba Bavuma 78, Kyle Verreynne 48*; Lahiru Kumara 3-54, Asitha Fernando 2-67) vs Sri Lanka
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