Ravindu Laksiri bags the Men’s crown in a electrifying squash final whilst Fathoum Issadeen becomes the Ladies champ
The Air Force Open PSA (Professional Squash Association) Satellite Squash Championship-2022 concludes on a high note at the Squash complex, SLAF Base Ratmalana yesterday(12 November 2022). The finals of the Women’s Open and Men’s Open categories and the awards ceremony were live telecasted on Rupavahini Channel Eye. The occasion was graced by Commander of the Air Force, Air Marshal Sudarshana Pathirana as Chief Guest along with Chairman Air Force Squash, Group Captain Pujana Gunathilake, Secretary Air Force Sports Council and Vice President Sri Lanka Squash Federation as well as Organizing Committee Head of Sri Lanka Squash Tournaments, Group Captain Eranda Geegane, Secretary of Sri Lanka Squash Federation Eranga Alwis,Members of the Air Force Board of Management and other distinguished guests from Sri Lanka Air Force and Sri Lanka Squash.
Ravindu Laksiri, the present and nine-time national champion who recently won his 1st PSA international tour, sustained his amazing performance when he defeated Pakistan’s Farhan Zaman to succeed in the Men’s Open competition at the Air Force Open PSA Satellite Squash Championships- 2022
The tournament’s favorite, Farhan Zaman, a former world No. 47 and gold medalist at the South Asian Games in 2016, was on his way to victory after taking the first two sets at scores of 11/7 and 11/9. However, Laksiri made a great effort to win the third set at 12-10 before continuing to win the next two sets at 13-11 and 11-6 to secure the Air Chief Marshal P H Mendis challenge trophy.
In the Women’s Open final, Yeheni Kuruppu from Visaka Vidyalaya battled against present and three-time National Champion Fathoum Issadeen who could secure the Air Chief Marshal Harry Gunathilaka memorial trophy.
Summary of results
Girls’ Under 13
1st Place – Ifra Shasmin Booso (St. Paul’s Girl’s School Milagiriya)
2nd Place – Punsara Nirushi Wickramasinghe (Anula Vidyalaya Nugegoda)
3rd Place – Thedara Liyanage (Sirimavo Bandaranaike Vidyalaya)
Boys’ Under 13
1st Place – Manuth Sandira Dassanayake (Geteway International School)
2nd Place – Linuka Silva (D.S Senanayake College)
3rd Place – Thevan K Gunawardena (St Joseph College Maradana)
Girls’ Under 15
1st Place – Punsara Nirushi Wickramasinghe (Anula Vidyalaya Nugegoda)
2nd Place – Nethmi Wickramasinghe (Ladie’s College Colombo)
3rd Place – Ifra Shasmin Booso (St. Paul’s Girl’s School Milagiriya)
Boys’ Under 15
1st Place – Matheesha Wijesekara (Royal College Colombo)
2nd Place – Bihandu Nanayakkara (Geteway International School)
3rd Place – Tharul Pinwatta (Royal College Colombo)
Girls’ Under 17
1st Place – Adhithi Gunasekera (Ladie’s College Colombo)
2nd Place – Irudinithi Wood (Lindsay Balika Vidyalaya)
3rd Place – Miyuni Misara Weerasinghe (Sirimavo Bandaranaike Vidyalaya)
Boys’ Under 17
1st Place – Matheesha Wijesekara (Royal College Colombo)
2nd Place – Mohamed Rilwan (St Josaphat College Maradana)
3rd Place – Tharul Pinwatta (Royal College Colombo)
Girls’ Under 19
1st Place – Chanithma Sinaly (Sirimawo Bandaranaike Vidyalaya)
2nd Place – Irudinithi Wood (Lindsay Balika Vidyalaya)
3rd Place – Anargi Perera (Vishaka Vidyalaya)
Boys’ Under 19
1st Place – Nevndu Lakman (D.S Senanayake College)
2nd Place – Thinura Randina (Nalanda College Colombo)
3rd Place – Seniya Jayatilleke (Royal College Colombo)
Men’s Over 35
1st Place – Leading Aircraftman DE Silva HAS (Sri Lanka Air Force)
2nd Place – Staff Sergeant KG Prabath (Sri Lanka Army)
3rd Place – Corporal Dissanayake DMR (Sri Lanka Army)
Men’s Over 40
1st Place – Group Captain Eranda Geeganage (Sri Lanka Air Force)
2nd Place – Fleet Chief Petty Officer ACC Kumara (Sri Lanka Navy)
3rd Place – Commander WJS Fenando (Sri Lanka Navy)
Men’s Over 45
1st Place – Abdul Cader
2nd Place – Group Captain Duleep Hewavitharana (Sri Lanka Air Force)
3rd Place – Colonel Kaminda Silva (Sri Lanka Army)
Veteran Over 50
1st Place – Abdul Cader
2nd Place – Mevan Rajeeve
3rd Place – Air Commodore Upali Wijeweera (Retd – Sri Lanka Air Force)
Womens’ Novices
1st Place – Senuji Jayarathne (Sirimavo Bandaranaike Vidyalaya)
2nd Place – Dahami Peiris (Kotelawala Defence University)
3rd Place – Sadini Rathnayake (Kotelawala Defence University)
Men’s Novices
1st Place – Private Dilan AJAI (Sri Lanka Army)
2nd Place – Private Rathnayaka RMSVP (Sri Lanka Army)
3rd Place – Private T Supun Jayanath (Sri Lanka Army)
Men’s Plate
1st Place – Lance Corporal Ekanayaka RMSLK (Sri Lanka Army)
2nd Place – Leading Aircraftman Edirisinghe EAHM (Sri Lanka Air Force)
Womens’ Open
1st Place – Fathoum Issadeen
2nd Place – Yeheni Kuruppu
3rd Place – Chanithma Sinaly (Sirimawo Bandaranaike Vidyalaya)
Men’s Open
1st Place – Ravindu Laksiri
2nd Place – Farhan Zaman (Pakistan Air Force)
3rd Place – Shamil Wakeel
