Gateway College excels at junior squash nationals

Gateway College squash winners Manuth Dassanayake, Sithumli Mendis, Chanumi Thebuwena, Anuk Perera, Samuel Wright, Sanalya Pathirana and Seshee Alagiyawanna

Gateway College’s Manuth Dassanayake delivered an outstanding performance, securing both the boys’ Under-17 and Under-19 Championship titles at the 37th Sri Lanka Junior National Squash championship that concluded last week at the Air Force Squash Complex at Ratmalana.

His achievements earned him the prestigious Junior Boy Player of the Year 2026 award.

In the Under-17 final, Manuth defeated Nevan Rubasinghe of Royal College 12/10, 11/3, 11/6 and in the Under-19 final he displayed remarkable resilience by staging an impressive comeback after trailing two games down against Matheesha Wijesekara of Royal College. He won 6/11, 7/11, 11/5, 12/10, 11/8.

Sithumli Mendis also of Gateway College produced a fine performance, finishing as girls’ Under-17 runner-up and taking third place in the Under-19 category. She was also awarded the Most Promising Girl Player of the Year 2026.

In the Under-17 final against Ifra Booso of St. Paul’s Girls’ School, Milagiriya, Sithumli fought back after losing the first two games but narrowly finished as runner-up, 7/11, 11/13, 11/5, 11/6, 11/6.

In the Under-19 third-place playoff, she defeated higher-seeded senior player Adithi Gunasekara of Ladies’ College 9/11, 11/9, 11/8, 11/7 to secure third place. A third player of Gateway, Chanumi Thebuwena became the girls’ Under-15 Champion and secured third place in the girls’ Under-17 category.

She defeated Thedara Liyanage of Sirimavo Bandaranaike Vidyalaya 11/6, 11/6, 15/13 in the Under-17 third-place playoff.

In the Under-15 final, Chanumi showed excellent skill and composure to defeat Dinithma Mihely of Sirimavo Bandaranaike Vidyalaya 15/13, 11/8, 11/5, claiming the championship title.

Gateway College winners: 

Manuth Dassanayake – Boys’ Under-17 Champion, Boys’ Under-19 Champion, Junior Boy Player of the Year 2026

Sithumli Mendis – Girls’ Under-17 Runner-up, Girls’ Under-19 Third Place, Most Promising Girl Player of the Year 2026

Chanumi Thebuwena – Girls’ Under-15 Champion, Girls’ Under-17 Third Place

Anuk Perera – Boys’ Under-11, 7th Place

Samuel Wright – Boys’ Under-11 Novices Champion

Sanalya Pathirana – Girls’ Under-11 Novices Champion

Seshee Alagiyawanna – Girls’ Under-11 Novices, 4th Place