Sri Lanka emerged victorious in Billie Jean King Cup – Asia/Oceania Group III, Event A and secured their place in the Asia/Oceania Group II of the tournament in 2026 with a dominating 2-0 win over Turkmenistan in the finals. The tournament was played at the Sri Lanka Tennis Association clay courts in Colombo 07 over the last week. The tournament delivered thrilling matches and displayed the fine spirit of the game by promoting the brotherhood among the nations.
During the preliminary round, the Sri Lankan outfit outclassed the Qatar and Nepal sides and were lucky enough to reach the finals despite their shocking defeat against Myanmar. In the final, Sri Lankan lasses put up a fine effort to demolish Turkmenistan’s attack and earned a hard-fought victory with the promotion to Group II.
Sri Lanka vs Qatar
Sri Lanka managed to have a fine start to the tournament with a thumping 3-0 victory over the Qatar side. In the opening battle, Akesha Silva of Sri Lanka managed to beat Hind Al Mudahka of Qatar. The Sri Lankan lass won the first set 6-3 comfortably. The game ended early when her opposition retired while trailing 0-3 in the second set.
Then, Sri Lanka’s national champion Dinara de Silva took the field and outclassed Mubaraka Al Naimi in straight sets while points were read as 6-3, 6-0.
In the doubles battle, the seasoned duo of Dinara de Silva and Akeesha Silva defeated the Qatari side with Mubaraka Al Naimi and Dana Khalifa in straight sets. Though the Sri Lankan pair dominated the first set to win it by 6-0, the Qatar side came back strong in the second set. But the experienced Sri Lankan girls never panicked and delivered a strong fight to edge out the opponent as 7-5. As such, Sri Lanka completed a 3-0, morale-boosting victory in the opener.
Sri Lanka vs Myanmar
In the second game, Myanmar lasses managed to end Sri Lanka’s unbeaten run as local girls suffered a 2-1 defeat after a thrilling series of games. In the first singles match, Nilar Win of Myanmar dominated the field and defeated the young local talent, Oneli Samarawickrama, 6-0, 6-1 in straight sets.
When Sri Lanka was in trouble, the national champion Dinara de Silva stepped up and played magnificently under all pressure to outplay Htay Htay Myint, 6-2, 6-1, and squared things.
Hence the doubles game was turned into the decider, and both teams fought tooth and nail to win the crucial game. There, the Sri Lankan players, Dinara de Silva and Akeesha Silva, took the field against Thiri Zoun and Nilar of Myanmar. Win of Myanmar. Sri Lanka won the first set 6-3, lifting the hopes of the hosts, and aimed for a clean sweep. But the Myanmar girls fought back to win the second set with the same margin, 6-3. The third set was a thriller, and the Myanmar girls had the last laugh by winning 10-8 in the extended set.
With this defeat, Sri Lanka’s hopes to reach the final were hanging by a string, and they were required to post a 3-0 win over Nepal to complete the task.
Sri Lanka vs Nepal
With the tough task of a 3 – 0 victory, the formidable Sri Lankan outfit cruised to the target by defeating the strong Nepal side. Akeesha Silva gave an early lead in the opening singles match. Akeesha held her nerve and fought against the fierce attack of Shivali Gurung to edge out her strong opponent with 7-6, 7-6 points.
Then, Sri Lanka’s national champion Dinara de Silva came up with another crucial victory over Abhilasha Bista. Dinara had a strong challenge from her opponent in the opening set, and she managed to dominate in the second to post a 6-4, 6-2 victory.
In the much more important doubles game, the Sri Lankan pair Inuki Jayaweera and Tuwini de Alwis confronted Shivali Gurung and Abhilasha Bist of Nepal. The Lanka pair won the first set by 6-4 points but were beaten in the second set by 1-6 points. Finally, Inuki and Tuwini held their nerve and held firm in the match tiebreak to seal victory 10-5. With this courageous victory, Sri Lanka earned their spot in the final against Turkmenistan.
Sri Lanka vs Turkmenistan
Akesha Silva and Dinara De Silva were in top form, producing straight-set victories in both singles matches to seal Sri Lanka’s final tie in the Group 3 competition.
In the first singles game, Akesha Silva fought with Turkmenistan’s young talent, Aynur Movlyamova. Akeesha gave an exceptional start, with a straight-set victory by 6-0, 6-2 points. Though Aynur tried hard to make an impact in the game, the strong Sri Lankan player never allowed her to do so by tightening the pressure.
The national champion, Dinara De Silva, carried the momentum of the home team by beating Ilima Guseynova. The visiting player had no answers to the highly technical play of Sri Lanka’s No. 1 ranked player, and Dinara won 6-2, 6-0 points in the second singles match.
With this thumping victory, Sri Lanka won the encounter 2-0 and completed the mission, clinching the promotion spot to Billie Jean King Cup – Asia/Oceania Group II.
