23rd Junior National Squash Championship :

Mihiliya, Ravindu win double crowns

Anuradha ABEYSEKERA

Mihiliya Methsarani and Ravindu Laksiri both clinched double titles by winning under-17 and under-19 events in the recently concluded 23rd Squash Junior NationalChampionship conducted by the Sri Lanka Squash Federation (SLSF) and worked off at the Tamil Union squash complex, Colombo over the weekend.

Coincidently same two players battled it out for the supremacy in girls under-17 and under-19 finals where Mihiliya emerged winner in both age categories to bag a double beating Naduni Gunawardane in straight sets.

Naduni went down 6/11/, 8/11, 9/11 in the under-17 final and Mihiliya made it 11/6, 11/5, 11/5 against Naduni in the apex age category (U-19) final and won the Nirasha Guruge Challenge Trophy.

In the boys’ category, double crown winner Ravindu also completed the tournament in style with two easy three setter finals by beating Shamil Wakeel 11/1, 11/3, 11/4 in the lower age category (U-17) and defeating Yasun Weerasuriya 11/2, 11/0, 11/4 in the under-19 event to bring home the Navin Piyathissa Challenge Trophy.

Boys’ under-13 champion Druvinka Perera and girls’ under-15 champion Saduni Guanawardane were adjudged the Most Improved Players of this year.

The under-11 boys champion Methmal Wood and under-13 girls champion Kasuni Gunawardane have made their ways to two finals but had to satisfied with the runner-up positions in under-13 and under-15 events respectively.

The annual top most local junior event in Sri Lanka's squash calender attracted over 300 players across the country and Ceylon Biscuits Limited (CBL) under its popular chocolate brand Ritzbury sponsored the Squash Junior Nationals for the fifth consecutive year this time.

Sports Ministry Additional Secretary Renuka Amarasinghe was the chief guest while Ritzbury Assistant Marketing Manager Nilupul de Silva participated as the guest of honour at the award ceremony.

Results of finals

Girls Under 9

Yeheni Kuruppu beat Chanithma Sinaly - 11/13 , 11/2, 11/5, 11/2

Girls Under 11

Sameera Deen beat Nimsari Weerasinghe - 11/3 , 11/4, 11/5

Girls Under 13

Kasuni Gunawardane beat Kiara Guruge - 11/5 , 11/1 , 11/4

Girls Under 15

Saduni Guanawardane beat Kasuni Gunawardane - 17/15, 8/11, 11/5, 11/9

Girls Under 17

Mihilya Methsarani beat Naduni Gunawardane - 11/6, 11/8, 11/9

Girls Under 19

Mihilya Methsarani beat Naduni Gunawardane - 11/6, 11/5, 11/5

Boys Under 9

Nevindu Lakman beat Akila Atapaththu - 11/5, 11/2, 11/2

Boys Under 11

Methmal Wood beat IR Ashwin - 11/7, 12/10 , 11/9

Boys Under 13

Druvinka Perera beat Methmal Wood - 11/9, 11/5, 11/7

Boys Under 15

Shamil Wakeel beat Viduranga Udantha - 11/8, 11/8, 11/9

Boys Under 17

Ravindu Laksiri beat Shamil Wakeel - 11/1, 11/3, 11/4

Boys Under 19

Ravindu Laksiri beat Yasun Weerasuriya - 11/2, 11/0, 11/4