04/01/2026
COLOMBO (News 1st) - Sri Lankan table tennis reached a historic milestone as Taavi Samaraweera became the World No. 1 in the Under-11 Boys category, marking the first time a Sri Lankan player has topped the world rankings in any age group.
Just 10 years old, Taavi is also ranked World No. 11 in the Under-13 category, competing successfully against older international players. His rapid rise has positioned him as one of the most promising young talents in world table tennis.
Taavi secured his place at the top following a remarkable performance at the World Table Tennis Youth Contender World Ranking Tournament in Italy, where he won the gold medal in the Under-11 category this year. The victory made him Sri Lanka’s first-ever World Youth Champion in table tennis.
Prior to this achievement, Taavi had already made history by becoming the first Sri Lankan table tennis player to reach World Youth Contender finals. He had accumulated an impressive medal tally of five silver medals and four bronze medals at international youth tournaments before clinching his first world title in Italy. The event is regarded as one of the strongest youth competitions in the sport.
In recognition of his outstanding achievements, Taavi was awarded the “Most Outstanding Sports Achiever of the Year” at the S. Thomas’ College Colours Award Ceremony, an honour presented across all sports disciplines. At the age of 10, he is believed to be among the youngest recipients of this award in the school’s history.
Taavi Samaraweera’s achievements mark a landmark moment for Sri Lankan table tennis and signal a new era for the sport, as the young champion continues to set unprecedented records on the global stage.
Story written by Buddmin Amaradiwakara
