Mora Tennis Victory 2008 - We Are The Champions!

Sunday, 5th October 2008

The Past few months!
It was in April, when the Mora tennis team lead by Niren Neydorff started out practices to retain our trophy for the year 2008. Two new members were recruited to the team. We practiced hard and strong to face our favourite rival (You know who!).
So, the great day came along. And we were physically and mentally 1000% fit to make the way towards our goal.

Mora Tennis Team 2008 Comprised of,

Niren (Cap), Prathaj (V.Cap), Kicha, Nimantha, Chira, Dasa, Thilan and Parinda.

This year we had the privilege of hosting the entire tournament at our home, Mora courts. It means we are going to have more fun too. On 3rd and 4th Oct, we played with the teams from J'Pura and Pera universities, So our Big artillery's 'Thaaj and Kicha' fired at the start and was able to win the rounds very easily marching our way to the top to reach the finals. Saturday 4th October was also a memorable day. Because we had to play till 8.30pm to get the win from Pera. It was a very tiresome day, it really was.

So, the great day came along. The day of the final. Yet again, it was the great and ancient battle between the Mora's and the Colombo's. I was a little late arriving to the courts on 5th. Somehow, I managed to get there on time. By that time there was a lot of supporters to cheer our boys. Past Cap's, past players, enthusiasts of Mora tennis and of course the online supporters as well.

Time :10.30am,
We all, the Gigantic Mora family gathered together as usual to start the days proceedings. The Cap called out the meeting to motivate the players and everyone to boost up the spirit in us. It always will be a historic mark in our team. I'm sure that everyone around just shivered with fear when we gave out the 'Mora' roar. All in all everyone is excited and anxious to see whats happens in the matches.

So, here goes! the great big Final matches!
Kicha's single:
Things started off in style, but initially, it was 1-1 in the first set. And people were a little worried, whether the Colombo guy would give us a good game. Then things started to go the other way round for them, when Kishanthan started to butcher the guy in to hell, beating him in all the 11 games left towards our first victory. Even we were so amazed about it. Their coach was boiling I guess. To be honest, he has no where to hide his face under the heavy and unforgiving attack. Honestly, it was a genuine piece of Classy Tennis. So, Kishanthan won the first game 6-1, 6-0 very easily.

Next up is Prathaj's single:
We all know that Prathaj is our Power Horse!!!
(Prathaj's Theme:) Size doesn't matter for him, Big or small he doesn't care. Young or old, still doesn't matter. No respect and No sympathy when he is playing. Only thing what matters is Smashing it Hard!
Everyone is afraid of him, especially when he is playing close to the net. Even Kicha has got hammered few times from his smashes.
The match started, the score is 2-2 in the first set. The Colombo guy seemed to be giving a good fight back. Still, we weren't much worried, because it's Prathaj who is playing. The score went on with, Prathaj down 4-2. Prathaj seemed to have lost his concentration when he started to play the ball very nicely out of the courts instead of keeping it inside. He was unable to win even the easiest finishers gifted to him. And we were puzzled, wondering 'what on earth is going on?'
And then only, we started to feel the heat in big bulks. All of us were feeling the pressure. Honestly I too was feeling all sorts of stuff; fear, thirst, everything... I just can't explain how I felt in that moment.
We believed that Prathaj will recover and go on to win the set. But, He didn't! He Lost! It was 6-4 down. Our faces were like crushed tomatoes. And the Colombo supporters started to celebrate their brave victory over our trump.
Our fellow coach called us continuously and got the updates. When he heard this news he was shocked and got dehydrated, I guess. And immediately came to the courts.
So, all the great people in our family went to Prathaj and motivated him with advice to build up his mentality to make a come back in the next set.
The Next set started! Prathaj won the first game. We were all cheering as loud as we can for every single point. Then he won the next one. And the next one and on and on.... It was, Prathaj leading with 5-0. It was an awesome and unexplainable feeling when he started to rise up! So wonderful. He won the second set in style 6-0. And we were,....(I don't know!)
The third set started, he won the first one, second one. Just the same what happened in second set. Again a great 6-0 victory bringing us the win. Cleaned up!
It was the Greatest Single's match I've ever seen in my life. Loosing the first set under thousands of hopes and going on to win the next 2 sets 6-0, 6-0. At the end he just showed who we are to the whole world.

Chira's fight back, single:
Then it was upto Chira to bring us the final victory. He couldn't win a set out of the matches he played before. Still we had faith in him, that he will do it this time for us. In the first set, it was neck and neck. He gave a very promising show to all, showing out that he doesn't give up and won't let us down, where he won the first set. It was a great feeling once again. But, he couldn't keep the momentum going in the next sets. So, couldn't reach the win. Honestly it was another great fight back. Everyone appreciated his drastic improvement in this tournament.

Niren and Kicha's wipe washing Double:
This double seemed a little tight when the Colombo's really did give a good fight at the start leading 4-1. Then, Niren got pissed off and Kicha started to fire up. We went on to win the first set 6-4 winning all 5 games. It was absolutely a wonderful piece of fight back from our boys.
In the second set we were down 2-0. Yet again, we taught the same lesson, winning the all 6 games winning the set 6-2.
It was the greatest double's match I've ever seen. They simply left everyone speechless. It was a nice show by Niren and Kicha. It's been a long time since they were partners (in every aspect) and made the most out of their experience and understanding. Honestly, the opponents were destroyed by Kicha's stunning placement and smashes. Kicha marked the victory with a remarkable ace proving that we deserve to be the champions!
Hurray! We won! We are the Champions!
We celebrated our great victory with pride and happiness, screaming "MORA!"

After all, even though I was only a supporter, still I felt like I was playing. These few days will always be memorable for us forever. Finally! we went out to celebrate our great victory!
Followed by the meeting to appoint the next Captain. Prathaj and Kicha was assigned as the Cap and V.Cap for the next year by the Old men of our Mora family.

And that was the end of that great day we all waited for in this year!
Finally, All I have to say is, as I always say,

"Tennis means Mora and Mora Only!"

Universal Vishwa