Traditional dance at the opening ceremony (Photo: Nipun Dilhara)
Proceedings supported by the Swaythling Club International, India proved the dominant force at South Asian Youth Championships staged in Kandy, Sri Lanka, from Sunday 26th Wednesday 29th May.
The only gold to avoid the visitors’ hands was the under 19 boys’ team title, Sri Lanka, the host nation emerging the winners.
Setting the standard, Ankur Bhattacharjee and Syndrela Das emerged the most successful players, each captured three titles.
Competing in the under 19 age group, Ankur Bhattacharjee secured the boys’ singles title, having earlier partnered Pritha Priya Vartikar to mixed doubles gold and Jash Amit Modi to the boys’ doubles top prize.
Success in the under 15 girls’ team event, later in the proceedings, Syndrela Das added the mixed doubles title in partnership with Sarthak Arya, prior to concluding her visit to Kandy by clinching girls’ singles gold.
Meanwhile, Sayali Rajeshj Wani and Soham Mukherjee won the respective under 19 girls’ singles and under 15 boys’ singles event to add to team success earlier in the week.