Anjalika caps Tennis Nationals with third title

Ave Maria Convent, Negombo player Anjalika Kurera clinched her third title to cap her return to tennis as she joined Royal College player Thehan Wijemanne to win the mixed doubles title of the Tennis Nationals 2021 concluded at the Sri Lanka Tennis Association courts on Tuesday.

After receiving a walkover from Janali Manmperi and Vibuda Wijebandara in the semi-finals, Kurera and Wijemanne beat Savini Jayasuriya and Chathurya Nilaweera 6-1, 1-6, 10-8 in the doubles final yesterday.

Kurera who regained the open women’s singles title earlier in the tournament was also the winner of the Under 18 girls’ singles. She was returning to competition after a year and was fighting a back injury. She was partnering Oneli Perera in the women’s doubles but pulled out from the semi-finals due to injury.

Under 18 girls’ doubles champions Thivini de Alwis and Prithika Chandramohan.

For Wijamanne it was the second title after having won the Under 18 boys’ doubles with Chathurya Nilaweera. The pair were also the runners up in the men’s doubles.

Meanwhile, Methodist College player Thivini de Alwis and Prithika Chandramohan of Asian International School won the Under 18 girls’ doubles title.

They beat Dewmini Warnasuriya and Nishka Vivekanandan 6-1, 7-6 (5) in the final. They reached the final after edging out top seeds Taniya Doloswala and Oneli Perera (1-6, 7-5, 10-6) in the semis.ini & Prithika