Laksiri in seventh heaven, Fathoum claims maiden title
Sri Lanka’s squash sensation Ravindu Laksiri won his seventh consecutive Senior Men’s National Squash championship while in the Senior Women’s event, the long time reign of another outstanding squash player Mehiliya Methsarani came to an end when Fathoum Issadeen scored a hard fought 3-1 win for her maiden national title at the 39th Senior National Squash Championship 2019 at the Air Force Squash Courts, Ratmalana last weekend.
Fresh from their participation in the South Asian Games, the four contenders, both in the men’s and women’s categories proved their talent in competing in the two finals.
Defending men’s champion added another feather to his unblemished career when he defeated South Asian teammate Shamil Wakeel 3-0 to win his seventh national crown.
Laksiri with his intelligent placing and fine foot work right throughout the game never allowed his opponent to settle down winning the first set 11/9. There was no stopping Laksiri from that point onwards. Wakeel tried his best to unsettle the reigning champ but his coolness enabled him to go through the second and third sets with ease to win 11/3 and 11/5.
Gihan Suwaris beat Mohomed Hakeem in the 3rd-4th place play-off.
In a thrilling battle for the supremacy in the women’s senior finals, the leading squash players in Sri Lanka went into a hard fought grand finale. The ever reliable Mehiliya Methsarani locked horns with her team mate at the South Asian Games where they paired to win bronze medals. A high class play was witnessed by the spectators at the courts as both players matched each other in every department of the game.
Excellent placing with strong attack in both fore and back hands along with panther like movements in the courts made the game exciting. Issadeen went ahead in winning the first set 11/9 as Methsarani came back with a fiery 9/11 win in the second set. Methsarani pulled her all tricks to keep up the momentum in the third set. But Issadeen reading her opponent’s movements managed to break play ending with a 11/7 win. A more confident looking Issadeen entered the courts for the fourth set to face Methsarani who adopted a change in pattern of play. But with the confidence she gained by winning the third set, Issadeen went from strength to strength to win 11/5 and claim the set and her maiden national title.
Kasuni Gunawardene defeated Sameera Deen in the 3rd-4th place play-off.