Published: April 8, 2026 at 9:59 pm
India’s Under-19 girls stamped their authority with a clinical 3-0 victory over Sri Lanka, even as early round action across categories gathered pace at the regional qualification event for the ITTF-ATTU Asian Youth Table Tennis Championships at the Indira Gandhi Rajya Khel Parisar in Shimla on Wednesday.
Having received a higher seeding, the Indian Under-19 girls made an immediate impact. Jennifer Varghese, Ananya Muralidharan, and Prisha Goel all registered straight or four-game wins to complete a comprehensive sweep against Sri Lanka.
Earlier, Sri Lanka had edged Nepal 3-1, while Maldives overcame Bangladesh by an identical margin. Nepal bounced back strongly in the second round, blanking Bangladesh 3-0.
In the Under-15 boys’ section, India mirrored that dominance with a 3-0 rout of Maldives in the second round. Aditya Das, Akshay Kirikara, and Akash Rajavelu conceded very few points across their matches, underlining India’s depth at the sub-junior level. Sri Lanka had earlier defeated Bangladesh 3-0 in the opening round.
The Under-15 girls’ category witnessed closer contests, with Maldives edging Nepal 3-2 in a hard-fought tie, while Sri Lanka comfortably beat Bangladesh 3-0.
In the Under-19 boys first round, Nepal scripted a fighting 3-2 comeback win over Bangladesh after trailing early, while Sri Lanka registered a straightforward victory over the Maldives.
The second-round matches in the Under-19 boys and Under-15 girls’ categories are yet to be played and are scheduled for the coming days.
Meanwhile, the Under-19 girls remain the only category competing for qualification to the Asian Youth Championships. However, the continental event, originally slated for June in Muscat, has been postponed owing to the ongoing West Asia crisis.
Indians eye continued dominance in qualifying tourney of South Asian Youth Championships
With momentum building and crucial ties ahead, the competition in Shimla is expected to intensify over the next few days.
Earlier, the event was inaugurated by the state chief minister Sukhwinder Singh Sukhu with the director of sports, Himachal Pradesh, and other dignitaries being present.
Results: Team Championship: Under 19 Girls: Round 1: Sri Lanka beat Nepal 3-1 (Tamadi Alagiyawadu beat Binaca Rai 11-8, 12-10, 16-14, Shamalsha Halawathage beat Evana Thapa 13-11, 6-11, 11-8, 18-20, 11-5, Lesany Kujlappuwawadu lost to Yonggi Poudel 9-11, 11-7, 6-11, 11-6, 9-11, Tamadi beat Evana 11-7, 9-11, 11-6, 11-6); Maldives beat Bangladesh 3-1 (Ibrahim Mishka beat Khoy Sai 11-8, 13-11, 5-11, 11-9, Fathimath Ali beat Oishe Rohman 12-14, 11-9, 11-8, 6-11, 11-3, Aishaath Nafiz lost to Resmi Tanchangya 11-9, 5-11, 11-9, 6-11, 8-11, Fathimath beat Khoy 11-5, 11-5, 9-11, 11-7).
Round 2: India beat Sri Lanka 3-0 (Jennifer Varghese beat Shamaisha 12-10, 11-8, 11-9, Ananya Muralidharan beat Tamadi 11-7, 11-7, 12-10, Prisha Goel beat Sandin Mudiyanselage 8-11, 11-4, 11-5, 11-9); Nepal beat Bangladesh 3-0 (Evana beat Resmi 11-9, 11-6, 11-4, Binaca beat Khoy 11-6, 11-7, 11-9, Yonggi beat Oishe 11-4, 11-7, 10-12, 11-5).
Under 15 Girls: Round 1: Maldives beat Nepal 3-2 (Aaishath Thaseen beat Suramya Shakya 11-5, 7-11, 9-11, 11-7, 11-7, Aishath Nafiz beat Arsana Maharjan 11-9, 11-4, 11-5, Sara Moosa lost to Shyra 12-10, 7-11, 8-11, 7-11, Nafiz lost to Suramya 7-11, 9-11, 11-5, 9-11, Thaseen beat Arsana 11-9, 11-7, 13-11); Sri Lanka beat Bangladesh 3-0 (Muthuli Welathanthrige beat Rafia Chowdhury 11-6, 11-7, 11-9, Chanuki Kariyawasam beat Islam Roza 11-6, 11-5, 11-7, Hesanya Pathirana beat Most Roja 11-6,11-8, 11-6).
Under 19 Boys: Round 1: Nepal beat Bangladesh 3-2 (Himal Bista lost to Abul Hasib 9-11, 11-4, 11-13, 11-9, 9-11, Erish Shakya lost to Iqbal Nafiz 7-11, 6-11, 7-11. Sameer Khatri beat Tahmidur Rahman 12-10, 5-11, 11-7, 11-9, Himal beat Iqbal 6-11, 12-10, 12-10, 11-9, Erish beat Abul 11-9, 11-9, 5-11, 11-9); Sri Lanka beat Maldives Akain Viyanduwa beat Awan Ibrahim 11-9, 11-5, 11-5, Nisalvin Danuk beat Mohammad Rafiu 11-5, 11-6, 11-9, Hareen Munasingha beat Imran Muhammad 11-7, 11-8, 9-11, 12-10).
Under 15 Boys: Round 1: Sri Lanka beat Bangladesh 3-0 (Yenu Abeywickrama beat Midul Rahman 8-11, 11-9, 11-7, 11-3, Sanon Menuwelge beat Shahin Ahamed 8-11, 11-9, 11-9, 11-13, 11-5, Pitiyage Silva beat Tamjid Porosh 11-8, 12-10, 11-5).
Round 2: India beat Maldives 3-0 (Aditya Das beat Mlohamed Rafiu 11-3, 11-3, 11-2, Akshay Kirikara beat Faaz Latheef 11-2, 11-5. 11-2, Akash Rajavelu beat Ayoob Saleem 11-4, 11-6, 11-3).
