Nishantha, Nadeeshani carrom champions

Chinthana WASALA

CARROM: Nishantha Fernando and Nadeeshani Rupasinghe emerged the men’s and women’s champions respectively at the eighth President’s Cup Carrom Championships concluded at the Carrom Federation Headquarters on Saturday.

Nishantha beat Germain Gunawardene in the men’s final in straight games of 25/22, 25/17. Nadeeshani defeated Yasika Rahubadda to win the women’s final 25/16, 0/25, 25/14.

In the semi-finals, Nishantha beat M. Sheriffdeen 25/8, 25/24 and Germain had the better of defending champion Chamil Cooray 25/18, 8/25, 25/22 to reach the final.

Eighteen year old schoolgirl Yasika routed Nayana Wickramasinghe in straight games 25/18, 25/20 in the first semi-final.

Nadeeshani had a tough battle with Former champion Amitha Wickramasinghe in the other semi-final 25/23, 1/25, 25/19 to meet Yasika in the final.

In the men’s doubles final, Chamil Cooray and Germain Gunawardena teamed up to defeat Lalith Kumara and A.W.M. Ikram 25/1, 25/18.

As expected, Amitha and Nayana Wickramasinghe routed Hajara Zainab and Joseph Dilka in the women’s final winning straight games 25/0, 25/11.

The next big event in the Sri Lankan Carrom calendar, the 20th Federation Cup Carrom Championships 2007 will start on May 26.

Entries will close on May 11 while the draw will be on May 11.