Table tennis: Menaka Samarasinghe the first Hawke's Bay player to claim over-30 NZ crown

Menaka Samarasinghe is going places with table tennis since arriving in Hastings in June this year. Photo/Paul Taylor

When Menaka Samarasinghe first picked up a table tennis bat and ball at a Sri Lankan primary school she discovered it was the ideal escape from the monotony of mental gymnastics in the classrooms.

But as she made incremental gains in education and table tennis through high school in Matara City and university, little did Samarasinghe realise it was going to bring her fame in another country.

"It's really, really exciting because I'd never won a New Zealand title before," says the 30-year-old, who moved from Palmerston North to Hastings in June before becoming the first Bay representative player to become the over-30s women's singles title winner two Saturdays ago in Tauranga.

The Hastings kindergarten employee, who has graduated with masters in international relations from the Institute of the Pacific United in Palmerston North, also won the over-30 women's doubles bragging rights with Shelley Smith, of Southland, as well as women's B grade doubles title with Armindeep Singh, of Waikato, at the 10-day New Zealand Open which lured entries from New Caledonia.

Samarasinghe beat Judy Fang, of Auckland, 11-7, 11-6, 6-11, 6-11, 11-8; Julie Adamson, of Canterbury, 11-7, 7-11, 11-7, 11-9; No 2 seed Smith 11-8, 4-11, 12-10, 11-7 before eclipsing top seed Kadia Keller-Rice, of Bay of Plenty, 12-10, 11-9, 9-11, 12-10 in the final.

"It wasn't easy because Shelley Smith and Kadia Keller-Rice pushed me pretty hard," she says.

Samarasinghe had attended a table tennis competition at Uva Wellassa University in Sri Lanka but had just missed out on selection, as No 5, to the World University Games.

However, during her studies at Palmerston North she bumped into New Zealand representative Matthew Ball, of Manawatu. She went on to compete in the Manawatu Open as a club team member where she helped them clinch the open women's crown.

"So this is my first time playing [singles] in the nationals," she says, revealing travelling expenses around the country became a hurdle as a student.

This year husband Kudeep Warawitage, a chef, encouraged the Napier Table Tennis Club member to test her mettle at the elite level.

"He paid for me, stayed with me for a few days and did everything," she says.

Samarasinghe, who rates her forehand, is an attacking player and hopes to make the cut for the New Zealand Masters when she turns 35.

"I'll have to wait for four more years but next year I'm going to try to win my title again," she says, keen to travel to Christchurch for the next nationals although not sure if she will still qualify for the B grade.

Samarasinghe is indebted to her parents, Kumuduni and Cyril, for encouraging her to stay with the game and meeting her costs all those years.

Hawke's Bay stalwart Russell Winkley was among the Napier Table Tennis Club members who returned with medals from the NZ Open in Tauranga a fortnight ago. Photo/file

Here, club stalwart Russell Winkley has been the inspiration.

"When I came to Hastings I didn't know anyone so he called me up to come play at the club and helped me with everything."

Winkley finished third in the over-55 men's singles division, after losing 8-11, 12-10, 4-11, 13-11, 7-11 in the semifinal to top seed Kevin Fogarty, of Auckland.

The Port of Napier employee then combined with David Scott, of BOP, in the over-55 men's doubles to finish third in a three-way tie on a countback on sets.

Winkley was a 2004 over-45 nationals mixed doubles champion. His daughter, Kelly Winkley, was the national under-13 mixed doubles champion in 1996.

Dave Christie was the first Bay national champion with the over-45 men's singles title in 1959. Eileen Rees claimed the New Zealand over-45 women's doubles crown in 1966.

Winkley says Auckland players tend to dominate at the elite level of the nationals because they have access to facilities whenever they want as well as competitors who bring a wealth of experience from overseas.