SL Paddlers excel at Australian Masters ..

Sri Lanka’s veteran paddlers brought honour to the motherland when they won five golds, 4 silvers and 7 bronze at the Australian Masters Games held in Adelaide, Australia from 3rd to 10th October, 2015.

This top class performance by the Sri Lankan Veteran table tennis players is nothing new as they have performed well during the last few years, thus underlying the fact that they could still bring honour to Sri Lanka at their own level though age is catching up with them.

The team of five players had a few national champions comprised Dr. Nimal Lucas, Mohammed Lafeer, Ms Tamara Hewage, Ms Ira Ruwanpathirana and Udayangani Ariyawansa. In some of the events the local veterans were partnered by Australian players who helped them to win the medals with supporting roles.

Former National champion Tamara Hewage back at table tennis after a short break setting an example to the younger generation that age could be no barrier if you could only maintain your fitness.

Tamara Hewage partnered by Udayangani Ariyawansa won a gold medal each in the over 30 womens event. Tamara Hewage also won a gold medal in the womens 50-60 age group event and followed up with another gold medal in the womens 65-74 age group singles event. In the over 50 mixed doubles partnered by Mohamed Lafeer the pair won a bronze medal each. In the 50-64 mixed age group event partnered by two Australians silver medal to round off a top class performance in a foreign soil.

While Tamara Hewage did the country next it was Dr. Nimal Lucas and Mohammed Lafeer won a Bronze medal each. In another age group event this pair won a silver medal each.

Udayangani Ariyawansa also shone for the country when she struck gold in the womens 30 to 49 age group event. In the over 30 Mixed Doubles event Udayangani Ariyawansa partnered by an Aussie won a bronze medal.

The fifth player Ira Ruwanpathirana made sure she did not return home without a medal when partnered by an Australian she won a bronze medal in the womens over 40 doubles.