Ten-year-old Taavi Samaraweera of Sri Lanka continued his rapid rise in world table tennis by winning the Under-11 title at the World Youth Contender tournament in Bahrain, securing his first international gold medal of 2026.
The top-ranked Under-11 player in the world produced a calm and confident performance in the final, defeating Bahrain’s Yusuf Albanna to clinch the championship.
The victory marks a significant milestone in Samaraweera’s young career and further highlights his emergence as one of the sport’s most promising talents. Despite his age, he has gained international attention for his technical skill, discipline and maturity at the table.
Samaraweera’s success in Bahrain also reflects Sri Lanka’s growing footprint in international table tennis and adds momentum to the country’s efforts to develop youth talent in the sport. (NewsWire)