Wesley paddlers to the fore

Wesley College Colombo emerged champions at the All-Island Schools Boys’ Under-18 Division ‘B’ Table Tennis Team Championship, beating Kegalu Vidyalaya comprehensively at the S. Thomas’ College Indoor Sports Complex in Mt. Lavinia last Sunday. 

The Wesley paddlers, led by Ashen Wijeratne, thrashed Kegalu Vidyalaya by three matches to one in the final. 

On their way to the title, Wesley’s paddlers beat Vidyartha College ‘C’ 3-1 in the semi-final, after beating Trinity College ‘A’ 3-2 in the quarterfinal. In the preliminary rounds, Wesley beat Ananda College ‘B’ 3-1 to reach the knockout stage. 

In addition to Captain Wijeratne, the Wesley team comprised Vice Captain Lithmina Mahanama, Matheesha Wijeratne, Amri Faleel and Nipun Kumara. The team was coached by veteran table tennis player turned coach, Jothipala Samaraweera. 

Seated from left: Ashen Wijeratne (Captain), Jothipala Samaraweera (Coach), Upali Rathnayake (Associate Principal), Wimal Bandara (Master-in-Charge), Lithmina Mahanama (Vice Captain)

Standing from left: Matheesha Wijeratne, Amri Faleel and Nipun Kumara