Nine year old Mihiliya does Sri Lanka proud

Sanjaya ARIYARATNE

SQUASH: Nine year old Mihiliya Methsarani of Sirimavo Bandaranaike Balika Vidyalaya, Colombo who was making her debut in an international tournament did Sri Lanka proud when she emerged the girls under eleven Plate Championship runner up of the Milo All Star International Junior Squash tournament worked off in Kuala Lumpur, Malaysia from May 31 to June 5.

Over twenty countries including Asian heavyweights Japan, India, Singapore and Malaysia took part in this tournament.

Mihiliya with a smile on her face said that she began playing squash in early 2005. She is the current champion in the under eleven age category in Sri Lanka. Earlier she was a badminton player and her skills in that sport helped her to become an outstanding squash player.

She advanced into the under eleven age group this year after having emerged under nine champion for the last two years. She became All Island Inter School under nine champion last year and also emerged All Island Junior Inter School champion in the same age group in the same year.

Mihiliya has also won the under eleven title in the National Junior Squash championship last year and also the under 9 squash championship for the same year.

She was a member of the team which came first in the Ariyadasa Silva memorial all island badminton girls `C’ division team championships.

She said that she is training under a former national squash player Janaka Suwaris who is taking great pains to make her a future national champion. Her ambition is to represent the country in international tournaments.

She is grateful to her parents K.A.S.W. Kumarajeewa OIC Morontuduwa police and Kinkini Thanapathi who always encourage her to take part in tournaments and give of her best to bring honour and fame to her school and country.