Sithumli Mendis of Gateway College Colombo brought honour to Sri Lanka with outstanding performances at two prestigious junior squash tournaments held in Melbourne, Australia, in April 2026.
Competing in the Australian Junior Open (Girls’ Under-17) from 12–16 April, followed by the Oceania Junior Open Squash Championship from 17–19 April at the Melbourne Sports and Aquatic Centre, Sithumli displayed exceptional skill, resilience, and composure against some of the world’s top young players.
At the Australian Junior Open, she secured Second Runner Up in a highly competitive 32 player draw. Her impressive run included a thrilling five set victory over New Zealand’s Maebh Manning, a straight sets win against Australia’s Chelsea Paule, and a remarkable upset over top seed Olivia van Zon in the quarterfinals. Although she was narrowly edged out in the semifinals by Isabella Wilcox, Sithumli responded in style, claiming third place with a commanding win over New Caledonia’s Agathe Buchon Laynaud.
Entering the Oceania Junior Open as the 17th seed in a field of over 400 participants, Sithumli once again exceeded expectations. She defeated reigning Australian Junior Open U17 champion Isabella Wilcox in straight sets and overcame Australia’s 3/4 seed Kayla Clarke in the quarterfinals. Following a closely contested semifinal against New Zealand’s top ranked Amalia Ricketts, she secured yet another third place finish with a convincing victory over Australia’s No. 2-ranked Ruby Foo.
Sithumli’s back to back international podium finishes mark a significant milestone for both herself and Gateway College Colombo, and stand as a testament to her dedication, determination, and the strength of Gateway’s sporting programme.