Sri Lanka’s young badminton stars produced a flawless display at the South Asia Regional Badminton Championship 2025 in Bhutan.
They won all three age categories — Under-15, Under-17, and Under-23 — to emerge as the undisputed champions of the tournament.
Kicking off their campaign on 15 August, the Under-17 side set the tone with a 4-1 win over Pakistan, spearheaded by commanding performances from Keneth Aruggoda, Nethmi Ratnayake, Senuth Sethmitha Perera, and Vishwanie Wanniarachchi.
The team dropped only the men’s doubles tie, otherwise dominating proceedings.
The Under-23 squad followed suit, dismantling hosts Bhutan 5-0, with Dumindu Abeywickrama and Ranithma Liyanage starring in both singles and doubles events.
Their momentum carried into a second 5-0 win over Pakistan the next day.
Meanwhile, the Under-15 team made a powerful statement of its own, sweeping Bhutan 5-0 behind standout performances from Thamindu Fernando, Nithini Kotuwegoda, and Limandi Gajali.
Their clean sweep was repeated against Nepal on the final day, capping a perfect weekend.
All three age groups wrapped up the tournament on 17 August with comprehensive 5-0 victories over Nepal, showcasing Sri Lanka’s depth, consistency, and growing dominance in the region.
Several matches went the distance, including hard-fought three-setters, but Sri Lanka’s resilience saw them through.
Led by Ceylon Badminton President Roshan Gunawardena, Team Manager Amanda Weerasinghe, and Coach Hasitha Chanaka, the squad’s triumph underscores Sri Lanka’s emergence as a regional powerhouse in junior badminton.
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