U-11 TT world No.1 Taavi returns home

2026-01-26 - 11:03

Sri Lanka’s young table tennis sensation, Taavi Samaraweera, currently ranked world number 1 in the Under-11 category, returned home early this morning (Jan. 26) with 02 gold medals from international tournaments in Bahrain and Qatar. He landed at Bandaranaike International Airport (BIA), Katunayake, at 03:55 a.m. from Muscat, Oman, aboard Salam Air flight OV-437. Taavi clinched his first international gold of 2026 at the World Youth Contender Tournament in Bahrain (Jan. 14-18) by winning the Under-11 title. He followed this with another top finish at the World Junior Table Tennis Championships in Doha, Qatar (Jan. 19-25), cementing his status as one of the fastest-rising talents in world table tennis. Currently a Grade 6 student at St. Thomas’ College, Mount Lavinia, Colombo, Taavi is coached by his father, Hasitha Samaraweera. A warm reception awaited the young champion at BIA, attended by airport officials, family members, including his mother and brother, and former Sri Lanka Table Tennis Federation President – Daya Samaraweera.