SLTA, Colombo: (ePRESS) – Sri Lanka’s Under-16 Junior Davis Cup team is set to compete in the prestigious International Tennis Federation (ITF) Junior team competition for 2025, traveling to Kuching, Malaysia tonight (Friday). The tournament, which will run from March 10 to 16, is a crucial Asia/Oceania Prequalifying event for the Davis Cup Juniors by Gainbridge 2025.
The competition will be held at the Sarawak Lawn Tennis Association courts, a facility equipped with 13 hard courts, where the young Sri Lankan team will face some of the best junior talent from across the region. The tournament will feature players from 26 countries, including Indonesia, Pakistan, Singapore, Vietnam, Bahrain, Bangladesh, Kuwait, and Lebanon, with only two teams qualifying for the next stage.
The Sri Lankan team is represented by four promising young players: Aahil Kaleel from St. Thomas’ College, Mt. Lavinia, Saha Kapilasena from King’s School, Rochester, England, Mayooran Kubherane from St. Peter’s College, Colombo 4, and Ashlin De Silva, also from St. Peter’s College. The team is led by Dinithi Pathiraja, the Non-Playing Captain and Coach.
“The team has been working incredibly hard in training, and Saha Kapilasena joined us recently after receiving permission from his school,” said Pathiraja, reflecting the dedication and commitment of the young players. “We know the competition will be tough, but we are determined to give our best and make Sri Lanka proud.”
The squad’s preparation has been intense, with each player focusing on refining their skills and building chemistry as a team. Despite facing the challenge of competing against formidable opponents, the Sri Lankan players remain hopeful, with their eyes set on the ultimate goal of qualifying for the next stage of the competition.
“This tournament is a big opportunity for us, and we know that only the top two teams will move forward. We will be facing some of the strongest teams in the region, but we are ready to give our all,” Pathiraja continued. “We want to bring glory to our country and make a mark on the international tennis court.”
The official tournament balls will be the Dunlop Australian Open balls, and the tournament director is Douglas Telajan, with Sina Ebrahmian serving as the referee and Jonathan Stubbs as the ITF representative. The Merdeka Palace Hotel in Kuching will be the official accommodation for the event.
As the team heads to Kuching with hopes high and spirits lifted, all eyes will be on them as they take on their regional rivals in the quest to qualify for the next phase of the 2025 Davis Cup Juniors competition.
(from left): Mayooran Kubherane (St. Peter’s College, Colombo 4), Saha Kapilasena (King’s School, Rochester, England), Iqbal Bin Issack (President, SLTA), Dinith Pathiraja (Non-playing Captain/Coach), Pradeep Goonasekara (General Secretary, SLTA), Aahil Kaleel (S Thomas’ College, Mt Lavinia), and Ashlin De Silva (St. Peter’s College, Colombo 4).
