Nevindu into quarters, sets sight on Plate C’ship

Nevindu Lakman

Nevindu Lakman, the promising young squash talent from Sri Lanka, made an impressive statement in the World Junior Squash Championships as he defeated Hong Kong’s number 1 player, TSE Jat, with a commanding 3-0 victory. The encounter, held yesterday in Melbourne, Australia, showcased Lakman’s remarkable skills and determination as he now eyes the coveted Plate Championship.

This remarkable win marks a significant turnaround for Lakman, who had suffered a 3-0 defeat at the hands of Asia’s top-seeded player, Jat TSE, just six months ago. The three-set scoreline in favor of Lakman displayed his growing prowess, reading 11-8, 13-11, and 11-9.

Earlier in the Singapore Open Squash Championship in late December 2022, Lakman had also faced a similar 3-0 defeat against Jat. His yesterday’s triumph over the Asian heavyweight within a seven-month period underscores his incredible progress and bodes well for the upcoming Asian Junior Squash Championship later this year.

Ecstatic after the match, Lakman expressed his delight, saying, “It was a stunning result for me. I feel great improvement in myself. Jat represents Hong Kong, one of Asia’s top squash-playing countries.”

Notably, Lakman stands as the sole participant from his country in the competition, while his Hong Kong counterpart benefits from a specialized coaching team, including a coach, physio, and manager. Despite the odds, Lakman remained humble, acknowledging the support he received from a few of his school, DS Senanayake College Old Boys, who currently reside in Melbourne.

Looking forward to the next challenge, Lakman is all set to face England in the quarter-final match today. Confident in his abilities, he firmly believes he can clinch the glittering Plate Championship.