Matheesha and Nethmi junior squash champions

From left Kemitha  Hettiarachchi, Chanumi Nimthara Nethmi Wickramasinghe and Matheesha Wijesekara

By Susil Premalal 

The 36th Junior National Squash Championship, organised by Sri Lanka Squash and sponsored by CBL (Foods) International, concluded at the Ratmalana Air Force Squash Complex with Royal College’s Matheesha Wijesekara and Ladies’ College’s Nethmi Wickramasinghe emerging as Junior National Champions. 

The tournament, which also served as a PSA Satellite event for the Under-17 and Under-19 categories, gave participants the chance to earn international ranking points.

Matheesha Wijesekara, who recently featured at the World Junior Squash Championships in Egypt, defended his title in style by defeating his schoolmate Tharul Pinwatta 11/4, 11/7, 11/7, showcasing his superior tactics and composure to secure the Junior National crown for the second consecutive year. 

In the girls’ final, Nethmi Wickramasinghe pulled off a major upset, defeating top seed Ranliya Wood in a thrilling five-set battle. Despite Ranliya’s efforts to level the match, Nethmi proved her resilience and sealed her maiden Junior National title with an 11/5 win in the decider.

Among other notable performances, Royal College’s Kemitha Hapuarachchi was named Most Promising Boy Player, after pushing top seed Manuth Dassanayake to his limits in the Under-17 final and finishing fourth in the Under-19 category. Gateway International’s Chanumi Thebuwena earned the Most Promising Girl Player award, winning the Girls’ Under-15 title and finishing fourth in the Under-17 category. Gateway College’s Manuth Dassanayake also impressed by clinching both the Under-15 and Under-17 boys’ titles.

Meanwhile, Ifra Booso of St. Paul’s Girls School won the Under-17 title while S. Thomas’ College’s Akane Konara captured the Boys’ Under-13 crown in a five-set thriller. Dinethma Miheli of Sirimavo Balika Vidyalaya took the Girls’ Under-13 title. 

The awards ceremony was attended by senior representatives from CBL Foods, who have sponsored the Junior Nationals for the 17th consecutive year, reinforcing their commitment to developing squash in Sri Lanka.