Sri Lankan Junior National Squash team took wing to India to participate at 21st Asian Junior Squash Team Championship to be held from 08th to 13th February 2023 in Chennai, India. The Sri Lankan Junior Men’s team will be represented by Nevindu Lakman, Thinuara Randina, Seniya Jayathilaka and Sehath Perera while Chanithma Sinaly, Anargi Perera, Ranliya Wood and Adithi Gunesekara will represent the National Junior Women’s Team.
Current Junior National Champion Nevindu Lakman from D S Senanayake College who did well recently to qualify for semi finals at Singapore Junior Open and Indian Junior Open will no doubt be a crucial factor in taking the team to a podium finish. Thinura Randina from Nalanda College, Seniya Jayathilaka and Sehath Perera from Royal College are the other members of the Boys team who can turn things around. The Men’s team will have to battle out with Pakistan, Hong Kong,, Korea and Kuwait in the league stage in order to move forward to semi finals and are expected to better their previous record of being placed 6th during last edition of the championship.
Women’s National Champion Chanithma Sinaly from Sirimavo Balika Vidyalaya and experienced Anargi
Perera from Visaka Vidyalaya will be the crucial players in the girl’s team requiring adequate support from
talented debutants Ranliya Wood from Lindsay Balika Vidyalaya and Adithi Gunesekara from Ladies College to make into the semi finals. The Women’s team will have to battle out with Hong Kong, India and Singapore in the league stage and are expected to better their previous record of being placed 5
th during last edition of the championship.
Gihan Suwaris, and Naduni Gunawardena will be in charge of the teams as coaches .Both Suwaris and
Gunawardena are former No 1 ranked players and World Squash Federation level three qualified coaches.
Muditha Chandratisa from Defense Services College will accompany the team as the lady chaperone.
J P P Ishara from Sri Lanka Navy was also selected by Asian Squash Federation as an official Referee of the
tournament, taking into consideration his experience and qualifications in International and local refereeing arena. Although approval was given by NSSC, Ministry of Education and Ministry of Sports for participation the particular Tournament, funding from Ministry was not allocated unlike previous instances. However Sri Lanka Squash decided to keep the tour alive with the support of Parents, sponsors and well wishers with utmost difficulties taking into consideration of the importance of the tournament and the potential of the team.
Sri Lanka Squash wishes the Team to perform at their optimum and make the country proud by keeping the Lion flag flying high.
