Sri Lanka’s junior tennis stars Annaya Norbert, Sahansa Damsiluni, Eliza Kahagalla, Damsath Peiris, and Revaan Amarasinghe advanced confidently in their respective categories on day two of the ITF Asia Under-14 and Development Championship.
The tournament, featuring players from 10 countries across South Asia, Southeast Asia, and East Asia, runs from January 13 to 17 at the Sri Lanka Tennis Association clay courts in Colombo.
In the girls’ quarterfinals, Norbert secured a hard-fought victory over Pakistan’s Zia Ullat Khan, triumphing 6-1, 7-6 after a tense second-set tiebreaker.
Damsiluni displayed her authority with a clinical 6-1, 6-0 victory over Mongolia’s Gantur Any, while Kahagalla outclassed Pakistan’s Hajara Sohail 6-2, 6-0. The trio will now compete in an all-Sri Lankan girls’ singles semifinal, ensuring a finalist from the host nation.
In the boys’ second round, Peiris breezed past Nepal’s Sangay Rokaya 6-0, 6-2, showcasing flawless baseline control. Amarasinghe, meanwhile, delivered a gritty performance to overcome Pakistan’s Rashid Ali in three sets, 5-7, 6-3, 6-2, with his recovery proving decisive. Both players will now compete in the boys’ quarterfinals.
(Sajeewa Jayakody – Daily News)
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