Sithumli and Manuth shine for Gateway at Air Force Open Squash Championship
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Manuth Dassanayake
Gateway College players produced an impressive performance at the Air Force Open Squash Championship 2025, held from October 17 to 24 at the Sri Lanka Air Force Squash Complex in Ratmalana. The winning players were Sithumli Mendis and Manuth Dassanayake, who both impressed among youngsters in the Junior Category.
Gateway College continues to demonstrate its strength in junior squash, producing multiple champions and finalists at this year’s tournament at 17th Air Force Open squash tournament.
Sithumli delivered a commanding performance, emerging as Girl’s Under-15 and Under-17 champion. She displayed exceptional form, easily defeating Chanumi Thebuwena in straight sets in both age categories, winning the Under-15 final by 11/4, 11/5 and 12/10 and the Under-17 semi-final by 11/6, 11/7 and 11/5). She then went on to clinch the Under-17 title with a 3-1 victory over Thedara Liyanage of Sirimavo Bandaranaike Vidyalaya.
Manuth was equally impressive, finishing runner-up in both the Boy’s Under-17 and Under-19 categories. He narrowly lost to Pakistan’s Abdul Aahad Butt in a thrilling five-set in the Under-17 final and lost to Matheesha Wijesekara of Royal College in the Under-19 final.
Sithumli Mendis