COLOMBO, Sri Lanka, Mar 18 (ePRESS) – Sri Lanka’s men’s wheelchair tennis team produced a historic performance to emerge runners-up at the 2026 BNP Paribas World Team Cup Asian Qualification, while earning high praise for the Sri Lanka Tennis Association’s (SLTA) world-class hosting of the prestigious regional event held at the SLTA Headquarters in Colombo last week.
The tournament is regarded as the wheelchair tennis equivalent of the Davis Cup and the Billie Jean King Cup. Sri Lanka hosted the Asian Qualification for the second consecutive year, further strengthening its reputation as a reliable international venue.
The host nation’s campaign was led by Asian Games bronze medallist and Paris 2024 Paralympian Suresh Dharmasena, who entered the tournament in top form after winning all three singles titles at the Uniqlo Wheelchair Tennis tournaments conducted by the SLTA in the lead-up.
The men’s competition featured teams from Sri Lanka, Pakistan, Chinese Taipei, India and Korea, while Iraq withdrew due to the ongoing conflict situation. In the women’s segment, Kazakhstan, China, India and Korea competed, with world No. 2 Xiaohui Li of China adding star quality to the event.
The tournament was conducted under strict international standards with Dharaka Ellawala, ITF Supervisor and Silver Badge Referee, overseeing proceedings, supported by a panel of White Badge and National Umpires. The event was directed by Ms. Binuri Perera, while Ms. Natasha-Lara Hood, Senior Coordinator – Wheelchair Tennis of the ITF, attended as the official ITF Representative.
The successful hosting of back-to-back Asian qualifiers in 2025 and 2026 reflects the strong confidence placed in Sri Lanka by the ITF and highlights the SLTA’s commitment to developing wheelchair tennis and inclusive sport in the region.
In the lead-up to the tournament, Sri Lanka also achieved a major milestone by conducting three consecutive Uniqlo Wheelchair Tennis tournaments and hosting its first-ever Wheelchair Tennis Medical Classification Evaluation on February 18 in Negombo, enabling players to gain international eligibility.
The SLTA, led by President Iqbal Bin Issack, with General Secretary Pradeep S. Goonasekera, Vice President and Chairman Wheelchair Tennis Maj. Gen. (retd) Shiran Abeysekera, Treasurer Sudarshan, and Vice President/Chairman T&M Rukmal Cooray, played a pivotal role in elevating the event to international standards.
The Association also acknowledged the support of its long-standing main sponsor CICT, represented by CEO Janzhang, DCEO Vincent An, Head of Administration and Corporate Affairs Max Guo, and Head of Public Relations Ruwinda Gunaratna.
The official ball sponsor Amcom Pvt Ltd, represented by Ismath (Manager) and Milhan (Assistant Manager), provided Dunlop ATP Championship balls, while Nolimit supported the Sri Lanka wheelchair tennis team as the official Team ID sponsor.
The official press conference, held at the Morven Colombo Hotel on March 1, featured addresses by SLTA President Iqbal Bin Issack and ITF Representative Ms. Natasha-Lara Hood, marking the formal commencement of the tournament.
Beyond results, the event stood as a powerful symbol of Sri Lanka’s commitment to inclusivity, high-performance sport, and international excellence, with the SLTA once again proving its capability to deliver world-class tennis events on home soil.
