SL Women placed 7th in Asia, highest ever in its history
Sri Lanka (SL) Men’s and Women’s Squash teams taking part in the 19th Asian Senior Squash Team championship at Cheongju International Squash Stadium, South Korea, from March 21-25 ended their their campaign on mixed fortunes, as the Women’s team defeated Pakistan in Pool and Knockout rounds, while the Men’s team defeated Chinese Taipei and Thailand in Pool rounds.
The SL Men’s and Women’s teams comprised 4 players each, including 1 schoolboy and 2 schoolgirls in the Men’s and Women’s teams respectively.
There were 16 countries in the Men’s Team event and 11 countries in the Women’s Team event
The SL Women’s team was in Pool ‘A’ and finished 3rd, after defeating Pakistan and Thailand. Hence they advanced to Stage 2 – Knockout Round to select the top 8 places.
Finally, SL Women beat Pakistan and secured 7th place in the Asia. This is the first time in the history of the Asian Team event that SL Women beat Pakistan twice in the same event.
Pool ‘A’ Round Results
Beat Pakistan 2-1
Mihiliya Methsarani beat Madina Zafar 3-0
(11-8, 11-7, 11-6)
Kasuni Gunawardane lost to Faiza Zafar
1-3 (4-11, 11-6, 6-11, 4-11)
Fathoum Issadeen beat Riffat Khan 3-1 (11-4, 8-11, 13-11, 11-8)
Beat Thailand 3-0
Mihiliya Methsarani beat Anantana Prasertratanakul 3-0 (11-3, 11-4, 11-3)
Kasuni Gunawardane beat Tuddaw Thamronglarp 3-0 (11-6, 11-3, 11-4)
Fathoum Issadeen beat Pranghatai Phongrattana3-0 (11-5, 11-3, 11-4)
Stage 2 – Knockout Round:
Beat Pakistan 2-1
Mihiliya Methsarani beat Madina Zafar 3-2 (10- 12, 8-11, 12-10, 11-5, 11-9)
Kasuni Gunawardane lost to Faiza Zafar0 -3 (8-11, 6-11, 3-11)
Fathoum Issadeen beat Riffat Khan 3-1 (9-11, 11-3, 11-1, 11-6)
Hong Kong won the Women’s Championship while Korea were Runners-up.
Men’s Results
The SL Men’s team played in Pool ‘B’ which had two leading countries Pakistan and Korea, and ended at the bottom of their group. They played in Stage 2 matches to select positions 9th-16th in Asia, where they beat Chinese Taipei and Thailand and were placed 13th in Asia.
Results
SL beat Chinese Taipei 2-1
Gihan Suwaris lost to Huang Cheng-Yao 0-3 (7-11, 4-11, 2-11)
Ravibndu Laksiri beat Chen Shu-Kai 3-0 (11-2, 11-1, 11-3)
Shamil Wakeel beat Fu Chun-Ching 3-0 (11-5, 11-5, 11-6)
SL Beat Thailand 2-1
Gihan Suwaris lost to Arnold Phatraprasit 0-3 (11-13, 4-11, 4-11)
Ravindu Laksiri beat Natthakit Jivasuwan 3-0 (11-3, 11-4, 11-3)
Shamil Wakeel beat Pasawee Suntivisut 3-0 (11-4, 11-2, 11-3)
Hong Kong won the Men’s Championship while Pakistan finished Runners-up.
SL Men were represented by Ravindu Laksiri (Captain), Shamil Wakeel, Gihan Suwaris, and Royalist Druvinka Perera.
SL Women were represented by Mihiliya Methsarani (Captain), Fathoum Issadeen, Visakhian Kasuni Gunawardene and Sameera Deen of Holy Family Convent, Bambalapitiya.
Officials: Manager- Wing Commander Eranda Geeganage, Coach- Chaminda Thalagala, Lady Chaperon- Mrs. Sadamini Wickramasinghe, Sports Ministry Observer- Ms Sumithra Wanasinghe.