Table Tennis: Muthumali creates history at 25th Asian Championships

This year, the Sri Lanka team's performance at the 25th Asian TT Championships has been by far exceptional, as Muthumali Priyadarshani of Sri Lanka Navy created history, becoming the first Sri Lankan female paddler to reach the round of 16 (quarter-finals) at an Asian Table Tennis Championships. 

This momentous feat was accomplished at the 25th Asian Table Tennis Championships currently being held in Doha Qatar in the Women's Singles category. 

Another notable factor is that she is the only player from the South Asian region to be amongst the first 16 players at this year's tournament, which is packed with players from countries where they play the sport of table tennis professionally and all players are ranked in top positions in the world. 

Muthumali lost against Japanese player Hayata Hina, ranked no 27 in the world.

In the other singles events, three of the players reached the round of 32 (pre-quarters). 

In the Men's Singles event, schoolboy Senura Silva of Ananda College, reached the round of 32. 

In the Women's Singles, schoolgirl Bimandee Bandara of Hilwood College, Kandy and Thanushi Rodrigo of Sri Lanka Army, reached the round of 32 and lost against Iran and Chinese Taipei opponents respectively.

In the team events both Men and Women performed well to improve the country’s ranking position by securing the12th position in the Women's team event, while the Men's team were positioned 18th. 

At the previous Asian Championships held in Indonesia in 2019, the Sri Lanka Women were placed 19th and the Men were placed 23rd.