Sri Lanka’s Squash ace Ravindu misses mark

Sri Lanka’s top-ranked squash player, Ravindu Laksiri, added another milestone to his impressive year by reaching his eighth PSA Challenger final in 2024. However, the national champion had to settle for the runner-up position at the JSW 10th Sunil Verma Memorial PSA 6K Squash Tournament, which concluded in Mumbai, India.

In a match that lasted just 37 minutes, Laksiri, the tournament’s top seed, suffered an unexpected 3-0 defeat against third-seeded Suraj Kumar Chand of India. The final score read 6-11, 6-11, 9-11.

“Not the result I planned to achieve, but I’ve learned that it simply wasn’t my day,” Laksiri reflected after the match. “This was my second PSA 6K final and the first one this year. Despite the outcome, I know that I must rise and keep pushing forward. How soon will I reach my goals? I’m not sure, but I’m moving toward them, step by step.”

This year has been remarkable for Laksiri, who achieved a career-best ranking of 117th in the world—the highest-ever by a Sri Lankan squash player.

Laksiri’s 2024 campaign has seen him clinch five titles from eight PSA Challenger finals, marking the most successful year of his career.

“This marks my eighth PSA Challenger final this year, and I’m proud to have won five of them,” Laksiri added. “Yet, I know there’s still so much more to achieve. Every effort I make is for my country, for Sri Lanka.”

 Source:Daily News