Nevindu displays tenacity in Plate Championships
Nevindu Lakman (front) battles it out in a thrilling showdown against Canada’s Youssef Sarhan during the World Junior Squash Championships in Melbourne yesterday.
In an exhilarating encounter at the ongoing World Junior Squash Championships in Melbourne, Australia, Sri Lanka’s Nevindu Lakman demonstrated remarkable resilience during a dramatic five-set match against Canada’s top-ranked Youssef Sarhan. Despite going down fighting in the Main Draw opener, Lakman bounced back to claim victory in his first Plate Championships clash yesterday.
In the fiercely contested match, Lakman, Asia’s number three ranked junior squash player, showcased his talent, challenging Sarhan throughout the five sets. The scoreline read 11-4, 11-9, 9-11, 10-12, 11-9, with the controversial final set favoring the Canadian, Sarhan, in the World Championship main process.
Following his narrow defeat in the Main Draw, Nevindu Lakman was relegated to the Plate Championships, which determines rankings from 65th to 96th place in the world. In a thrilling five-setter against Papua New Guinea’s Josh Porter, Lakman emerged victorious with a scoreline of 11-5, 14-16, 11-6, 4-11, and 11-6.
Speaking after the Main Draw match, Lakman expressed his frustration over some visible mistakes made by the judge, attributing them to the extra pressure that eventually led to his loss. He acknowledged that had he won the first encounter, his World Championships ranking would have landed him between 32nd and 50th place.
“The match was in my hand, but unfortunately, I lost the grip after unfavorable decisions by the judge, who warned me for my jersey before starting the match and later favored my opponent in the middle of the sets,” lamented Nevindu.
However, despite the setback, the young Sri Lankan athlete remained optimistic and determined to make his country proud as the sole representative in the tournament. “I am disappointed with what happened in the first game, but I am looking forward optimistically to do something great for my country,” he said, displaying his positive spirit.
In the upcoming match at MSAC Squash Courts in Melbourne, Lakman will face the number one ranked player from Hong Kong, Jat Tse a former Asia’s number 2 Junior player. With his remarkable display of tenacity and skill, Nevindu Lakman aims to continue his journey in the Plate Championships, determined to leave a lasting impact on the world stage of junior squash.