World No. 01 Taavi Samaraweera Wins Gold at World Youth Contender in Bahrain

COLOMBO (News 1st); Ten-year-old Taavi Samaraweera continued his meteoric rise in world table tennis by winning his first international gold medal of 2026 at the World Youth Contender tournament in Bahrain.

The young Sri Lankan prodigy delivered a composed and confident performance in the final, defeating Bahrain’s Yusuf Albanna to clinch the Under-11 title. The victory marked a major milestone in Taavi’s young career and underlined his status as one of the brightest talents in the sport.

Currently ranked world number one in the Under-11 category, Taavi has been turning heads on the global stage with his skill, discipline, and maturity well beyond his years. His triumph in Bahrain further strengthens Sri Lanka’s growing presence in international table tennis and signals a promising future for the sport in the country.

Story written by Buddmin Amaradiwakara