Three Sri Lankan Girls Reach the ATF Under-16 Quarter-Finals in Colombo

AI-generated illustration. No authentic photograph from the tournament is embedded.

Three Sri Lankan junior players (Disini Samaraweera, Desandi Peiris and Sayani Dinandi) advanced to the girls’ quarter-finals at the ATF Under-16 Week 2 tennis tournament in Colombo, winning their second-round matches on 13 October at the Sri Lanka Tennis Association (SLTA) courts at Greenpath.

Each secured a straight-sets victory, although the matches followed different patterns: Disini and Sayani won in two sets, while Desandi had to take the opening set in a tie-break before closing out her match. Their progress formed part of a busy day of singles play, which also included first-round matches in the boys’ draw.

The results, reported by Daily Mirror on 14 October in an article by M. Shamil Amit, offered a welcome snapshot of Sri Lankan junior tennis competing on home courts against players from overseas and from within the country.

An AI-generated court-side illustration for the junior tennis report; it does not show the tournament or its players.

Three straight-sets wins in the girls’ draw

Disini Samaraweera defeated India’s Druthi Penmesta 2–0, with set scores of 6–1 and 6–4. After taking the opening set comfortably, Samaraweera completed the win in a more closely contested second set.

Desandi Peiris also beat an Indian opponent, overcoming Ahnavi Shaw 2–0. Their first set was decided by a tie-break, with Peiris taking it 7–6 before winning the second set 6–3. The result carried her into the quarter-finals after a match in which the opening set was particularly close.

Sayani Dinandi completed the trio of Sri Lankan winners, defeating compatriot Yoneli Senadeera 2–0, 6–2 and 6–4. The all-Sri Lankan meeting meant that one home player would progress and another would leave the singles draw. Dinandi took both sets to secure her quarter-final place.

The three results were identical in the overall margin, two sets to nil, yet each match had its own shape. Samaraweera and Dinandi faced competitive second sets, while Peiris had to negotiate a tie-break before establishing control in the next. Together, the wins placed three Sri Lankan girls among the quarter-finalists at this stage of the tournament.

The same round also saw India’s Harishwari Chinnakavanam defeat Sri Lanka’s Sahansa Perera 2–0, with set scores of 6–0 and 6–2. That result completed the reported girls’ second-round outcomes involving Sri Lankan players.

An AI-generated illustration of junior tennis practice. The players are not intended to represent any named competitor.

Sri Lankan boys record first-round victories

The boys’ singles programme included first-round matches, with Sri Lanka’s Buvindu Jayawardena and Jathya Thalammehara recording wins.

Jayawardena defeated France’s Thomas Toussant 2–0, winning both sets 7–6. The identical scores underline how closely contested the match was: Jayawardena had to come through a tie-break in each set to secure his place in the next round.

Thalammehara beat compatriot Siyaf Shiyam 2–0, with a scoreline of 6–0, 6–0. As in the girls’ match between Dinandi and Senadeera, the boys’ draw included a meeting between two Sri Lankan players, ensuring that at least one local competitor advanced.

The other reported first-round winners included defending champion Anthony Castigador of the Philippines and India’s Siddharth Kandukuri. Castigador defeated Sri Lanka’s Vethum Kumarage 2–0, 6–0, 6–0, while Kandukuri beat Sri Lanka’s Nithila Methsiri 2–0, 6–3, 6–2.

The results show the range of challenges in a tournament draw: close sets decided by tie-breaks, convincing straight-sets wins, and matches between players representing the same country. For the Sri Lankan juniors, Jayawardena and Thalammehara’s first-round victories added to the progress made by the three girls.

AI-generated tennis illustration. It is a general sports visual, not a photograph from the ATF event.

A home-court stage for developing players

The matches took place at the SLTA courts at Greenpath, Colombo, giving the young players an opportunity to compete in an international tournament on home soil. The reported draws featured players from Sri Lanka, India, France and the Philippines, bringing a range of opponents and match situations to the week’s competition.

For families and young players following tennis in Sri Lanka and abroad, the results provide an encouraging account of junior competitors gaining experience and advancing through a recognised under-16 event. The three girls’ quarter-final places are a clear achievement, while the boys’ first-round wins add to the day’s positive outcomes for the host nation.

The results also offer a reminder that progress in junior sport is built match by match. A scoreline such as 7–6, 7–6 reflects a different test from a 6–0, 6–0 result, and both can form part of a young player’s development. The matches in Colombo brought those varied demands into view without diminishing the achievement of any competitor.

The tournament continues, with the quarter-final places and first-round results marking the next stage of the players’ progress. The Daily Mirror report records the results from 13 October; it does not provide later outcomes, so no further result is implied here.

Source: Daily Mirror. “Disini, Desandi and Sayani enter quarters”, by M. Shamil Amit, published 14 October 2026.

This article was written based on the source https://www.dailymirror.lk/sports/Disini-Desandi-and-Sayani-enter-quarters/244-352486, kindly email us at info@eLanka.com.au if any information needs to be corrected.

eLanka Disclaimer

Content published on eLanka may be created by the eLanka team, submitted by contributors or third parties, reproduced or adapted from other sources with appropriate source acknowledgement, or provided as promotional/advertising material by our clients. While eLanka takes reasonable care in preparing and publishing content, we do not warrant its completeness or accuracy. Views expressed are those of the respective authors or contributors and do not necessarily represent the views of eLanka. Third-party contributors, content providers and advertisers are responsible for the accuracy of material they supply and for ensuring they hold the necessary rights and permissions for its publication. Advertising and promotional content should not be regarded as an endorsement by eLanka of any product, service or claim.