Ravindu Laksiri clinched his sixth consecutive championships, while Chanithma Sinaly emerged victorious as the overall title holder in the recently concluded 15th Sri Lanka Air Force Open Squash Tournament. The tournament took place at the Air Force Squash Complex in Ratmalana from November 4 to 10.
Ravindu Laksiri, a ten-time consecutive national champion, and Chanithma Sinaly, a three-time women’s national champion, proudly lifted the Air Force Squash Championship. Notably, foreign players also participated in this year’s tournament.
Indian Air Force’s Junior Warrant Officer Sandeep Jangra took the runner-up position against Sri Lanka’s Ravindu Laksiri, the world’s 120th-ranked player. Jangra’s younger brother, Junior Warrant Officer Navin, secured the second runner-up position by defeating Sri Lanka’s Viduranga Udantha in the third-place encounter.
In the Women’s Open category, Chanithma Sinaly, a three-time consecutive national champion, emerged as the champion, defeating Fathoum Issadeen in the final. Issadeen was adjudged the runner-up, while former National Champion and Visakha Vidyalaya alumna Yeheni Kuruppu claimed the second runner-up position after a closely contested five-setter against Dewmini Gallage in the battle for third place.
Sinaly, a student from Sirimavo Bandaranaike Vidyalaya, secured a double championship by winning both the Open Women Championship and the Under-19 Girls Championship. In the Under-19 Girls final, Sinaly emerged victorious against Anargi Perera from Visakha Vidyalaya. Adhithi Gunasekara of Ladies’ College clinched the third-place position by defeating Themini Palliyaguru from Sirimavo Bandaranaike Vidyalaya.
The week-long tournament featured various age groups, starting from Under-9 to Under-19 for both girls and boys, as well as Over 35 to 55 for Masters events. This year’s champions’ prize pool exceeded Rs 600,000, a historic milestone in the tournament’s history.
Considered a PSA Satellite Tournament that contributes to world rankings, the event drew over 500 entries, making it the highest offering cash prize squash tournament in Sri Lankan history.
Highlighting the Sri Lanka Air Force’s pivotal role in squash development, Group Captain Eranda Geeganage from the Sri Lanka Air Force serves as the Vice President of Sri Lanka Squash.
In the Women’s Over 35 category, former National Champion Kushani Daluwatte emerged as the winner, defeating Lalanthi Daluwatte, who secured the runner-up position.
The Men’s Over 35 category witnessed dominance from the Three Forces, with Lac de Silva HAS of the Sri Lanka Air Force clinching the championship. Lac Methsiri HWGM of the Sri Lanka Air Force became the runner-up, and Sri Lanka Army’s Sgt Dissanayake DMR secured the third place by beating Sri Lanka Air Force’s Lac Jayalal SDSK.
Results:
Men’s Open
Winner Ravindu Laksiri, runner-up Sandeep Jang, Junior Warrant Officer, Indian Air Force, third place: Junior Warrant Officer Naveen Jangra (Indian Air Force).
Women’s Open: Winner – Chanithma Sinalay, Runner-up – Fathoum Issadeen, Third Place – Yeheni Kuruppu (Visakha Vidyalaya), Fourth Place – Dwmini Gallage (Informatics Institute of Technology).
Men’s Novices:
Winner: L/Cpl Amila Kumara (Sri Lanka Army), Runner-up: Chavinda Rashmika, Third Place: L/Cpl CN Moris (Sri Lanka Army), Fourth Place: U Rajapakse (Kotelawala Defence University).
Women’s Novices:
Winner: SRMKUR Bandara (Kotelawala Defence University), Runner-up: Dhanushaka Jeyganesh, Third Place: LAC Wijesinghe (Sri Lanka Air Force).
Vetern Over 55:
Winner: SM Abdul Carder, Runner-up: Mohamad Rizwan, Third Place: Air Cdr Uapli Wijeyaweera rtd (Sri Lanka Air Force). Fourth Place: Dileepa Jayasinghe
Vetern Over 50:
Winner: SM Abdul Cader, Runner-up: Dhammika Wijesundara, Third Place: Air Cdr Uapli Wijeyaweera rtd (Sri Lanka Air Force), Fourth Place: Dileepa Jayasinghe.
Men’s Over 45:
Winner: Gp Capt Dineth Eranda Geeganage (Sri Lanka Air Force), Runner-up: Gp Capt Surendra Munasinghe (Sri Lanka Air Force), Third Place: Gp Capt Duleep Hewavitharana (Sri Lanka Air Force)
Men’s Over 35:
Winner: Lac De Silva HAS (Sri Lanka Air Force), Runner-up: Lac Methsiri HWGM (Sri Lanka Air Force), Third Place: Sgt Dissanayake DMR (Sri Lanka Air Force), Fourth Place: Lac Jayalal SDSK (Sri Lanka Air Force).
Women’s Over 35
Winner: Kushani Daluwatta, Runner-up Lalanthi Daluwatta.
Boys Under-19
Winner: Matheesha Wijesekara (Royal College), Runner-up: Tharul Pinwatta (Royal College), Third Place: Pramudutha Thalagala (Defence Services College), Fourth Place: Vishan Ranatunga (Gateway School Colombo).
Girls Under-19
Winner: Chanithma Sinaly (Sirimavo Bandaranaike Vidyalaya), Runner-up: Anargi Perera (Visakha Vidyalaya), Third Place: Adhithi Gunasekara (Ladies’ College), Fourth Place: Themini Palliyaguru (Sirimavo Bandaranaike Vidyalaya).
Boys Under-17
Winner: Matheesha Wijesekara (Royal College), Runner-up: Tharul Pinwatta (Royal College), Third Place: Manuth Sandira Dassanayake (Gateway Colloge Colombo), Fourth Place: Vishan Ranatunga (Gateway College Colombo).
Girls Under-17
Winner: Adhithi Gunasekara (Ladies’ College), Runner-up: Akeesha Dahamdi Samaranayake (Sirimavo Bandaranaike Vidyalaya), Third Place: Miyuni Misara Weerasinghe (Sirimavo Bandaranaike Vidyalaya), Fourth Place: Nethmi Wickramasinghe (Ladies’ College).
Boys Under-15
Winner: Kemitha Hapuarachchi (Royal College), Runner-up: Manuth Sandira Dassanayake (Gateway College Colombo), Third Place: NBB Nanayakkara (Gateway College Colombo), Fourth Place: Manula Kareendra (DS Senanayake College).
Girls Under-15
Winner: Nethmi Wickramasinghe (Ladies’ College), Runner-up: Ifra Shasmin Booso, Third Place: Punsara Nirulshi Wickramasinghe (Anula College Nugegoda), Fourth Place: Dinuli Alahapperuma (Visakha Vidyalaya).
Boys Under-13
Winner: Thevan Gunawardena (St Joseph’s College), Runner-up: Nevan Rubasinghe (Royal College), Third Place: Ravith Mendis (Gateway College Colombo), Fourth Place: Rehandhu Kiran (St Joseph’s College).
Girls Under-13
Winner: Ifra Shasmin Booso (St Paul’s Milagiriya), Runner-up: Sithumli Ruhansa Mendis (Sirimavo Bandaranaike Vidyalaya), Third Place: Chanumi Nimthara Thebuwana (Gateway College Colombo), Fourth Place: Senudi Minagee Weerabaddana (Sirimavo Bandaranaike Vidyalaya).
Boys Under-11
Winner: Akayne Konara (S Thomas’ College), Runner-up: Danuja Sethsara Jayasinghe (Ananda Sasthralaya), Third Place: Haashid Noordeen (Louvre College), Fourth Place: Ananthavel Kishean (Royal College).
Girls Under-11
Winner Dinithma Mihely (Sirimavo Bandaranaike Vidyalaya), Runner-up: Nethanya Wickrmasinghe (Ladies’ College), Third Place: Chenumi Thisakya (Sumedha College Gampaha), Fourth Place: Thenalee Daswatte (Sirimavo Bandaranaike Vidyalaya)
Boys Under-9
Winner: WP Kenula (DS Senanayake College), Runner-up: Sudaiq Shiraz (British School Colombo), Third Place: Dasindu Yugeeth Githmal (Mahanama College), Fourth Place: Inura Jayaweera (DS Senanayake College).
Girls Under-9
Winner: Thinalee Daswatte (Sirimavo Bandaranaike Vidyalaya), Runner-up: Dheerya Mithali Silva (Visakha Vidyalaya), Third Place: Sanuki Okithma Liyanahetti (Visakha Vidyalaya), Fourth Place: Damsarani Belpage (Visakha Vidyalaya).
Boys Under-15 Novices
Winner: KD Githmal (S Thomas’ College Guruthalawa). Runner-up: Dulen Balasooriya (DS Senanayake College), Third Place: Thisandu Gunasekara (Mahanama College).
Girls Under-15 Novices
Winner Sayumdi Warnakulasuriya (Sirimavo Bandaranaike Vidyalaya), Runner-up: Yasasmi Mutucumarana (Visakha Vidyalaya), Third Place: Sethumdi Warnakulasuriya (Sirimavo Bandaranaike Vidyalaya), Fourth Place: Buddhima Malki Nisansala (Sumedha College Gampaha).
Boys Under-11 Novices
Winner: Bihandu Methsila (DS Senanayake College), Runner-up: Induwara Hasarel Wijesooriya (Sumedha College Gampaha), Third Place: Sasen Dulanmeth Hettihewa (Dharmapala Vidyalaya Pannipitiya), Fourth Place: Kavith Goonasekara (Gateway College Colombo).
Boys Under-9 Novices
Winner: Sasen Dulanmeth Hettihewa (Dharmapala Vidyalaya Pannipitiya), Runner-up: Lunasha Yathindra Mudalige (Mahanama College), Third Place: Tysean Avory (S Thomas’ College Mt Lavinia), Fourth Place: Anauk Perera
Girls Under-9 Novices
Winner: Aranya Saheli Kumaradasa (Gateway College Colombo), Runner-up: Linara Vithanage (Sumedha College Gampaha), Third Place: Gesandi Gihansa Kasturi (Sumedha College Gampaha), Fourth Place: Yashasvee Gaganya Jagoda (Sirimavo Bandaranaike Vidyalaya).
