Chanithma Sinaly
{{short description|Sri Lankan squash player}}
{{Infobox squash player
| name = Chanithma Sinaly
| fullname = Veera Samiyel Chanithma Sinaly
| nickname =
| country = {{SRI}}
| residence = Mulleriyawa
| birth_date =
| birth_place = Colombo, Western Province, Sri Lanka
| height = 161cm
| weight = 54kg
| plays = right-handed
| highest_ranking = 161
| date_of_highest_ranking = November 2023
| current_ranking = 161
| date_of_current_ranking = November 2023
| medals =
}}
Veera Samiyel Chanithma Sinaly is a Sri Lankan professional squash player.{{Cite web |title=Chanithma Sinaly |url=https://rankedin.com/en/player/R000041765/chanithma-sinaly |access-date=2023-11-24 |website=rankedin.com |language=en}}{{Cite web |title=Squash Info {{!}} Chanithma Sinaly Veera Samiyel {{!}} Squash |url=https://www.squashinfo.com/player/13481-chanithma-sinaly-veera-samiyel |access-date=2023-11-24 |website=www.squashinfo.com}}{{Cite web |title=Sri Lanka Squash |url=https://srilankasquash.lk/events/8v-s-chanithma-sinaly/ |access-date=2023-11-24 |language=en}} She is also the current national champion in women's singles in the sport of squash. She achieved her highest career PSA world rankings of 161 in November 2023.{{Cite web |title=Squash Info {{!}} PSA World Squash Rankings: Chanithma Sinaly Veera Samiyel {{!}} Squash |url=https://www.squashinfo.com/ranking-player/13481-chanithma-sinaly-veera-samiyel |access-date=2023-11-24 |website=www.squashinfo.com}}
Biography
She pursued her primary and secondary education at the Sirimavo Bandaranaike Vidyalaya, where she was appointed as the Deputy Head Prefect.{{Cite web |title=‘Squash Akki’ – fan-base and fame at school for Chanithma |url=https://www.sundaytimes.lk/230108/sports/squash-akki-fan-base-and-fame-at-school-for-chanithma-507753.html |access-date=2023-11-24 |website=Print Edition - The Sunday Times, Sri Lanka}} She is coached by her father Mahesh Chandana.{{Cite web |title=Financial restrains force star player to withdraw from overseas commitments |url=https://www.sundaytimes.lk/230611/sports/financial-restrains-force-star-player-to-withdraw-from-overseas-commitments-522473.html |access-date=2023-11-24 |website=Print Edition - The Sunday Times, Sri Lanka}}
Career
She was selected for 2019 Asian Junior Squash Team Championship which was held in Thailand.{{Cite web |last=Ranasinghe |first=Dinushki |date=2019-01-14 |title=8 selected for Asian Junior Squash Team Championships 2019 |url=https://www.thepapare.com/sri-lanka-national-junior-squash-team-2019/ |access-date=2023-11-24 |website=ThePapare.com |language=en-US}} She was named in Sri Lankan squad for the 2021 Women's Asian Team Squash Championships.{{Cite web |last=Weerasooriya |first=Sahan |date=2021-11-29 |title=Sri Lanka national squash teams off to Malaysia |url=http://island.lk/sri-lanka-national-squash-teams-off-to-malaysia/ |access-date=2023-11-24 |language=en-US}}{{Cite web |title=20th Asian Team Championships 2021 Squash Tournament Bukit Jalil - Rankedin |url=https://rankedin.com/en/tournament/7060/20th-asian-team-championships-2021 |access-date=2023-11-24 |website=rankedin.com |language=en}} In December 2022, she clinched the women's open title defeating Fathoum Issadeen in the final of the 42nd Squash Senior Nationals which was played at the Singhalese Sports Club and it was also Chanithma's first national title win.{{Cite web |date=2022-12-31 |title=Squash champion Fathoum Issadeen beaten by Sirimavo girl |url=https://archives1.sundayobserver.lk/2023/01/01/sports/squash-champion-fathoum-issadeen-beaten-sirimavo-girl |access-date=2023-11-24 |website=Sunday Observer |language=en}}{{Cite web |title=Squash: Men’s champ defends title; three-times women’s champ downed by maiden winner |url=https://sundaytimes.lk/online/sport/Squash-Mens-champ-defends-title-three-times-womens-champ-downed-by-maiden-winner/3-1140220 |access-date=2023-11-24 |website=Times Online |language=English}} She was adjudged the winner of the Girls Under-19 category at the 33rd Junior National Squash Championship in 2022.{{Cite web |last=Weerasooriya |first=Sahan |date=2022-10-18 |title=Nevindu and Chanithma shine at Junior National Squash Championship 2022 |url=http://island.lk/nevindu-and-chanithma-shine-at-junior-national-squash-championship-2022/ |access-date=2023-11-24 |language=en-US}}{{Cite web |last=Today |first=Ceylon |date=2022-10-17 |title=Nevindu and Chanithma champs |url=https://ceylontoday.lk/2022/10/18/nevindu-and-chanithma-champs/ |access-date=2023-11-24 |website=Ceylon Today |language=en-US}} She also won the Girls Under-19 title at the inaugural edition of the Yeti Open Junior Squash Championship in 2022.{{Cite web |title=Yeti Open Squash Championship: Thinura and Chanithma stamp their class {{!}} Daily FT |url=https://www.ft.lk/sports/Yeti-Open-Squash-Championship-Thinura-and-Chanithma-stamp-their-class/23-740430 |access-date=2023-11-24 |website=www.ft.lk |language=English}}{{Cite web |date=2022-09-26 |title=Thinura, Chanithma clinch Yeti Open squash titles |url=https://themorning.lk//articles/220120 |access-date=2023-11-24 |website=Latest in the News Sphere {{!}} The Morning}} She represented Sri Lanka at the 2022 Commonwealth Games, which also marked her debut appearance at the Commonwealth Games.{{Cite web |last=Dhambarage |first=Chris |title=SLS teams-up with Yeti for Commonwealth Games |url=https://archives1.dailynews.lk/2022/08/02/sports/284175/sls-teams-yeti-commonwealth-games |access-date=2023-11-24 |website=Daily News |language=en}} She competed in the women's singles, women's doubles and mixed doubles competitions during the 2022 Commonwealth Games.{{Cite news |title=Squash - Women's Singles results |language=en-GB |work=BBC Sport |url=https://www.bbc.com/sport/commonwealth-games/62350851 |access-date=2023-11-24}} She won the Girls Under-17 plate championship at the 2022 Asian Junior Individual Squash Championships.{{Cite web |title=Lankans better their previous record at Asian Junior Squash |url=https://archives1.dailynews.lk/2022/06/29/sports/281928/lankans-better-their-previous-record-asian-junior-squash |access-date=2023-11-24 |website=Daily News |language=en}}
In 2023, she won the women's open title during the Sri Lanka Air Force Open Squash Tournament which was held at the Ratmalana Air Force Base.{{Cite web |title=Ravindu and Chanithma win Air Force Squash Titles |url=https://www.dailynews.lk/2023/11/14/sports/229501/ravindu-and-chanithma-win-air-force-squash-titles/ |access-date=2023-11-25 |website=Daily News}} She was also included in Sri Lankan contingent for the 2023 Asian Junior Team Squash Championship.{{Cite news |date=2023-02-08 |title=Indian teams off to winning starts in Asian Junior squash championship |work=The Times of India |url=https://timesofindia.indiatimes.com/sports/more-sports/others/indian-teams-off-to-winning-starts-in-asian-junior-squash-championship/articleshow/97740420.cms?frmapp=yes&from=mdr |access-date=2023-11-24 |issn=0971-8257}} She has occasionally missed out on competing at overseas international squash competitions such as the 2023 Hong Kong Championship owing to financial constraints. She represented Sri Lanka at the 2022 Asian Games and it also marked her maiden appearance at the Asian Games.{{Cite web |title=Sri Lanka contingent leaves for Asian Games tomorrow |url=https://www.dailymirror.lk/print/sports/Sri-Lanka-contingent-leaves-for-Asian-Games-tomorrow/244-267623 |access-date=2023-11-24 |website=www.dailymirror.lk |language=English}} During the 2022 Asian Games, she competed in the mixed doubles event collaborating with Shamil Wakeel.{{Cite web |last=Abeykoon |first=Gayan |date=2023-09-11 |title=Sri Lanka’s squash stars eye medals at Asian Games |url=https://www.dailynews.lk/2023/09/12/sports/118265/sri-lankas-squash-stars-eye-medals-at-asian-games/ |access-date=2023-11-24 |website=DailyNews |language=en-US}}{{Cite web |date=2023-09-02 |title=47 officials on the bandwagon for Asian Games |url=https://archives1.sundayobserver.lk/2023/09/03/sports/47-officials-bandwagon-asian-games |access-date=2023-11-24 |website=Sunday Observer |language=en}}{{Cite web |title=Squash Info {{!}} Mixed Asian Games Doubles Championship 2023 {{!}} Squash |url=https://www.squashinfo.com/events/10073-mixed-asian-games-doubles-championship-2023 |access-date=2023-11-24 |website=www.squashinfo.com}}
References
{{Reflist}}
{{DEFAULTSORT:Sinaly, Chanithma}}
Category:Sri Lankan female squash players
Category:Squash players at the 2022 Commonwealth Games
Category:Squash players at the 2022 Asian Games
Category:Commonwealth Games competitors for Sri Lanka
Category:Asian Games competitors for Sri Lanka
Category:Alumni of Sirimavo Bandaranaike Vidyalaya
Category:People from Western Province, Sri Lanka