Aluthgama boy and Bishop’s girl bow out victorious

 Intermediate champions Vihara Herath and Dasindu Sathsilu

By Susil Premalal

Dasindu Sathsilu of Aluthgama Maha Vidyalaya and Vihara Herath of Bishop’s College bowed out victorious in the men’s and women’s categories at the Intermediate/Novices Table Tennis Tournament 2025, held at the Indoor Stadium, Bandaragama.

The tournament, organized by the Sri Lanka Veterans Table Tennis Association was played across ten age categories, showcasing the country’s rising talent in the sport.

In the men’s Intermediate final, Sathsilu displayed exceptional skill and resilience to defeat Sanula Siriwimala of Nalanda College in three thrilling sets (05-11, 11-09, 11-06). In the women’s final, Vihara Herath proved her dominance by overcoming Isuri Somaratne of Visakha Vidyalaya after a competitive three-set battle (05-11, 11-06, 08-11). Both winners not only claimed the championship titles but also reinforced their reputation as promising players for the future of Sri Lankan table tennis.

The tournament provided a strong platform for budding athletes from schools across the country, with age-group competitions ranging from Under-7 to Under-19. Among the standout performances, Sanuki Thinethma of Sri Sumangala College, Wariyapola, and Thenul Minhas of De Mazenod College, Kandana, captured the Under-7 titles while M.M. Haajar of Muslim Ladies’ College, Galle and Nilesh Priyankara of Lyceum, Panadura, excelled in the Under-9 category. At the Under-11 level, victories were secured by Githmi Sansala of Karandeniya Primary College and Viduna Ransath of Kahanthota Primary School, Malabe.

The Under-13 titles were clinched by D.D.M. Dahamdi Gunathilake of Prajapathi Gothami and Adrian Angelo of Loyola College, Bopitiya while in the Under-15 division, W. Minthuli Lithara of Prajapathi Gothami and Vihein Oshika Senarathne of Gateway College, Colombo, emerged champions. In the Under-17 contests, W.W. Methuli Nelinya of Buddhist Ladies’ College, Colombo and once again, Dasindu Sathsilu of Aluthgama MV, triumphed in their respective finals. At the Under-19 level, Vihara Herath of Bishop’s College and Dasindu Sathsilu continued their impressive run by adding more titles to their collection.

In the Novices category, Saheli Basnayaka of Ladies’ College and Sethuka Baduge of Horizon College International, Malabe, secured the women’s and men’s titles respectively. With such a wide display of emerging talent across different age groups, the tournament highlighted the depth of Sri Lanka’s table tennis and the promise it holds for the sport’s future according to the organisers.