Sri Lanka hosts Billie Jean King Cup Asia/Oceania Group III

From left: Dinara de Silva, Tuvini de Alwis, Oneli Samarawickrama, SLTA General Secretary Pradeep Goonasekara, SLTA President Iqbal Bin Issack, Sports Minister Sunil Kumara Gamage, Team captain Thangarajah Dineshkanthan, Inuki Jayaweera, and Akeesha Silva after the opening ceremony 

The spotlight returns to Sri Lanka as it hosts the Billie Jean King Cup by Gainbridge – Asia/Oceania Group III (Pool A) from June 16 to 21, at the Sri Lanka Tennis Association’s clay courts in Colombo. Seven nations will vie for a coveted promotion spot to Group II in this week-long international women’s tennis showdown.

The participating nations are Pakistan, Nepal, Turkmenistan, Qatar, Tajikistan, Myanmar, and host nation Sri Lanka. Iraq and Syria could not come because of the Iran-Israel war.

The opening ceremony took place yesterday and the tournament is scheduled to begin today as scheduled. 

The winning team of this round-robin format tournament will earn promotion to Group II in 2026, bringing them a step closer to the elite stages of international women’s team tennis.

Team Sri Lanka enters the tournament with high hopes of securing promotion. The team captain is Thangarajah Dineshkanthan and comprises Dinara de Silva (St. Bridget’s Convent), Akeesha Silva (Newstead College, Negombo), Oneli Samarawickrama (Newstead College, Negombo), Inuki Jayaweera (Musaeus College), and Tuvini Seyara de Alwis (Methodist College). (AO)

Key tournament officials are Referee: Charles Lau (Hong Kong), Assistant Referee: Anjana de Silva (Sri Lanka), Tournament Director: Nithiyanathan Sylan (Sri Lanka), and  Chief Umpire: Sarangan Jayachandrirun (Sri Lanka).

Visiting Teams & Players
Myanmar: Htay Htay Myint, Nilar Win, Thire Zoun, Ei Phyu (Captain: Kyi Mya Zaw)
Nepal: Abhilasha Bista, Shivali Gurung, Sunira Thapa, Swastika Bista (Captain: Krishna Raj Ghale)
Pakistan: Ushna Suhail, Amna Ali Qayum, Meheq Khokhar, Sheeza Sajid (Captain: Sara Mansoor)
Qatar: Mubaraka Al-Naimi, Hind Al-Mudahka, Dana Khalifa (Captain: Mubaraka Al-Naimi)
Tajikistan: Saiyora Rajabalieva, Anisa Yakhyaeva, Sumaya Tukhtaeva, Anastasiya Tashlintseva (Captain: Dalerjon Qurbonov)
Turkmenistan: Ilima Guseynova, Aynur Movlyamova, Leyli Esenova, Jennet Orazalyyeva (Captain: Gurbanberdi Gurbanberdiyev)