The SSC Open Squash Championship, conducted as a senior national ranking event in collaboration with Sri Lanka Squash and the Sinhalese Sports Club, was held recently at the SSC Squash Complex.
In the highly anticipated final of the Men’s Open segment, Methmal Wood from the Sri Lanka Army clinched his maiden title after a thrilling match against Viduranga Udantha of the Sri Lanka Air Force. In the first game, the Air Force player pushed the contest to a nail-biting finish. However, despite coming close, he fell short as the experienced Methmal held his nerve and edged out his opponent 13–11.
Buoyed by that morale-boosting victory, Methmal increased the pressure using his experience and technical prowess to comfortably win the second game 11–4. With the momentum firmly in his favour, Methmal continued his dominance in the third game, where Viduranga was unable to mount a comeback, losing 11–6.
In the bronze medal match, Sri Lanka Air Force player Usham Arif defeated his teammate Thinura Randina after a closely contested battle that stretched to five games.
The reigning Women’s National Champion, Chanithma Sinaly from Sirimavo Bandaranaike Vidyalaya, claimed the Women’s Open title with a commanding win over Adithi Gunesekara from Ladies’ College in straight sets. Chanithma took control of the match from the outset, and Adithi had no answers to the skillful and technically precise play of her formidable opponent. In the end, Chanithma secured the title with three consecutive game wins, with scores of 11–4, 11–2, and 11–5.
Another highlight of the tournament was 14-year-old Sithumli Mendis from Gateway International College, who pulled off two major upsets. She first defeated Ranliya Wood—who recently won the Yeti Open Squash Championship—in a five-set thriller in the quarter-finals, and then overcame Akeesha Samaranayake from Sirimavo Bandaranaike Vidyalaya in the bronze medal match of the Women’s Open segment.
Additionally, Ifra Booso from St. Paul’s College, Milagiriya—who recently reached the top 16 in Asia at the Asian Individual Squash Championship—secured 5th place by defeating Miyuni Weerasinghe from Sirimavo Bandaranaike Vidyalaya in straight sets.
The Secretary of SSC, Mr. A. D. H. Samaranayake, graced the occasion as Chief Guest, while the Secretary of Indoor Games at SSC, Mr. Nethro Nanayakkara, attended as Guest of Honour. Several other officials from Sri Lanka Squash and SSC were also present at both the opening and closing ceremonies.
SSC Open Squash Championship – Results list
Men’s Open Championship
Winner: Methmal Wood Sri Lanka Army
Runner-up: Viduranga Udantha Sri Lanka Air Force
3rd Place: MAM Ushama Sri Lanka Air Force
4th Place: DHT Randina Sri Lanka Air Force
5th Place: Suraj Daniels Sri Lanka Army
6th Place: MI Faheth Asmon Sri Lanka Army
7th Place: HAS De Silva Sri Lanka Air Force
8th Place: Hirantha Goonasena
Women’s Open Championship
Winner: Chanithama Sinaly Sirimawo Bandaranaike Vidyalaya
Runner-up: Adhithi Gunasekera Ladies College
3rd Place: Sithumli Ruhansa Mendis Gateway School
4th Place: Akeesa Dahamdi Samaranayake Sirimawo Bandaranaike Vidyalaya
5th Place: Ifra Shasmin Booso St. Paul’s Girl’s School Milagiriya
6th Place: Miyuni Weerasinghe Sirimawo Bandaranaike Vidyalaya
7th Place: Nethmi Wickramasinghe Ladies College
Men’s Plate Championship
Winner: Hasitha Udayanga Sri Lanka Army
Runner-up: EAHM Edirisinghe Sri Lanka Air Force
Men’s Novices Segment
Winner: Thamindu Nimthara
Runner-up: Ruwan Tharaka Sri Lanka Air Force
3rd Place: Yasas Rasindu Sri Lanka Air Force
4th Place: Azek Aiden Royal College
Men’s Over 35 Segment
Winner: MAM Ushama Sri Lanka Air Force
Runner-up: DE Silva HAS Sri Lanka Air Force
3rd Place: HW Malith Methsiri Sri Lanka Air Force
4th Place: Hirantha Goonasena
5th Place: HMA Priyantha Sri Lanka Navy
6th Place: WMAD Dissanayaka Sri Lanka Navy
7th Place: EAHM Edirisinghe Sri Lanka Air Force
8th Place: Kumara Ekanayaka Sri Lanka Army
Veteran Over 50 Segment
Winner: Chaminda Thalagala
Runner-up: Mevan Rajeeve
3rd Place: Mohamed Azmi
4th Place: N Ranasinghe Sri Lanka Navy
Men’s Over 45 Segment
Winner: Nishantha Chandrakumara
Runner-up: DL Hewawitharana Sri Lanka Air Force
3rd Place: Ian Herft
Men’s Over 40 Segment
Winner: DMR Dissanayaka Sri Lanka Army
Runner-up: Ravi Fernando
3rd Place: Maduranga Rajapaksha Sri Lanka Army
