Matheesha Perera and Lidiya Fonseka were crowned champions at the Sri Lanka Badminton Novices Championship 2025 which concluded recently at the Deshabandhu Lt. Col. W. Wimaladasa Indoor Stadium in Kuruwita, Ratnapura.
Even though Matheesha pocketed the Men’s Open Singles title, Lidiya was crowned the Women’s Open Singles champion, as she claimed a double after winning the Girl’s Under-17 Singles title.
Unseated Matheesha easily overcame third seed Suresh in the Men’s Open Singles final, following a clean run up to the final.
He was at the start troubled by Suresh in the first set, but Matheesha remained composed to claim the first set 21/14, and continued his form to record a 21/7 win in the second set to seal the Men’s Open Singles title.
Lidiya effortlessly overcame Shehani Wijenayake in straight sets with scores of 21/8 and 21/10 to claim her double title at the SLB Novices Championship 2025, emerging as one of the top performers of the five-day event.
Subair Aathil teamed up with S.M. Imzan to beat Ashen Imalka and Adihtya Kalhara in straight sets to appear Men’s Open Doubles champion, while Devindra Fernando paired up with Sandali Geekiyanage to overcome Omindu Bimsara and Sandumi Amaya in straight sets, in an otherwise exciting final to claim the Mixed Open Doubles title.
Nishadi Thenushika accounted for a double crown in the Under-19 category, winning the Girls’ Singles as well as the Girls’ Doubles titles, while Lafeer Ansaf recorded a straight win to overpower Yagama Gimhana in straight sets to win the Boy’s Singles title.
In spite of losing the Singles final, Gimhana teamed up with Irun Shakya to record a straight win against Omira Dinsara and Tharuka Rajin, and claim the Boys’ U-19 Doubles title.
Nishadi beat Thashara Jayaratne in the Girl’s U-19 Singles in straight sets, and later teamed up with her opponent to record a comfortable straight win on their way to earn the Girls’ U-19 Doubles title.
Although Women’s Open Singles winner Lidiya Fonseka earned her first title, beating Thesandi Dinuwari in the Girl’s Under-17 Singles final, Pubudu Melon claimed a double crown, winning the Boy’s Singles as well as the Doubles titles.
Pubudu beat Mohamed Basim in conservative sets to claim the Boy’s U-17 Singles title, and teamed up with Duvindu Edirisinghe to outsmart Basim and Munas Asmal to claim the Boy’s U-17 Doubles title.
Udan Peiris overcame Binupa Ratnayake in straight sets to claim the Boy’s Under-15 Singles title, while Sesadi Anujana bounced back from an early setback to thump Vinuthi Mendis 2-1 and claim the Girl’s U-15 Singles title.
Akram Ahamed and Lithum Fernando made a strong resistance before overcoming Sanira Mendis and Udan Peiris in straight sets to emerge Boys’ U-15 Doubles winners, while Isuli Rajapaksha and Siyansa Wickramasinghe thwarted the challenge possessed by Raini Gamage and Crystal Weerakkody on their way to become Girls’ U-15 Doubles champions.
Sashmitha Damsara beat Manul Fernando in straight sets to turn out to be the Boy’s Under-13 Singles champion, while Sanuthi Mahinsha enjoyed a similar outcome against Sithuli Samarasinghe to emerge the Girl’s Under-13 Singles champion.
In a close contest where the final went down to the wire, Sanithu Mahinsha and Siheli Siriwardhana succeeded over Manudi Rehansa and Benadi Weerakoon by 2-1 to emerge the Girls’ U-13 Doubles champions.
Ruwan Basitha and Denuka Karunaratne recorded a comfortable straight victory against the Jayawickrama brothers, Senon and Thinon, to claim the Boys’ U-13 Doubles title.
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