Earlier in the Tournament, the 15 year old Ladies College School girl won the Girls Under 16 Singles title beating Hasindhi Lokuge 6/2 and 6/1. This was followed by a convincing 6/3, 6/0 win over fancied Nethmi Waduge in the plum Under 18 Singles and was crowned the newest Sri Lanka Junior National Tennis Champion.
In the National Medhira partnered by Thewuni Devaraja emerged winner in the Woman’s Open Doubles beating top seed Amritha Muttaihand, Nilushi Fernando 3/6, 6/1, 6/3. Medhira and Thewuni combined won the Doubles in year 2013 as well.
She continued her good form and ended the Championships on the final day by clinching her fourth title by partnering Sanka Athukorale in the Open Mixed Doubles and overcoming the Number 1 seeddue Dineshkanthan Thangarajahand Amritha Muttaih 6/4, 3/6, 6/2.
Medhira who was the youngest member of Sri Lanka’s Fed Cup Tennis Team 2014 to Kazakhstan is a member of the Hambantota Sports Club and is coached by Shalini Perera and Sanka Athokorale. Sheemerges fromanextended family of tennis players. Her Great Grandmother Nedra Obeysekera (de Saram) was the 1st Ceylonese Woman’s National Tennis Champion (1934) and her Aunt Oosha Chanmugam (Nee de Saram) won the Woman’s Championships in 1971.
Medhira’s Great Great Grand uncle E.R. De Saram was the 1st Ceylonese Men’s National Tennis Champion (1919). Her Great Great Grandfather F. C. De Saram (1925) and Great Grand uncle F. J. De Saram (1941, 1947 & 1950) also won the Men’s Champions.
Photo Caption : Medhira Samarasinghe was awarded Airtel player of the tournament in the women’s category by Ministerof SportsHon. Mahindananda Aluthgamage at the prize giving of the 99th National Tennis Championships 2014.
