Five Young Sri Lankan Athletes Making Headlines in 2025
There’s something wild going on in Sri Lanka right now. Young people, fresh out of school, are immediately in the heat: breaking records, flying along the tracks, hitting the ball so hard that it echoes throughout the region. No smooth starts – just full throttle. Golf, running, karting, swimming – who would have thought that a country that is usually associated with tea and beaches would be churning out sports stars like a conveyor belt in 2025? In this article, we’ll tell you about five young athletes from Sri Lanka who are already changing the rules of the game!
5. Breaking Through the Track: The Rise of a Sprinter
Kalinga Kumarage is not a “prospect”, but already a result. In May 2025, he clocked 45.55 in the 400m final at the Asian Championships in Gumi (South Korea) and took bronze — literally one step away from the titans of the region. And if you follow running (or just like to bet smart), the betting APK Sri Lanka gives you access to thousands of races, qualifications, and championships. The best odds, more than 20 promotions for regular bettors — and you’re in the game even before the start.
Two days later, Kumarage is back on the track — this time in the 4×400 relay. Together with Darshana, Rajakagun, and Indupa, he takes another bronze for Sri Lanka. Both medals were broadcast throughout South Asia. He is currently preparing for the National Championships in Diyagam (August 1-3), a key qualifier for the internationals. Under Chaminda Perera, he has already broken 46 five times this season. His name is familiar in Chilaw. Soon, it will be heard further.
4. Golf’s New Face: A Young Prodigy Emerges
Kaya Daluwatta is only 16, but it already feels like golf in Sri Lanka has moved from a dead stop. In June 2025, she played in the USGA qualification and qualified for the Junior Girls Championship in the USA — the first Sri Lankan girl in almost ten years who managed to do so. And yes, if you bet on junior tournaments or majors — with the promo code MelBet, bets become more delicious: +50% to the bonus at the start. Don’t forget to enter it when registering – you’ll bite your elbows later.
Kaya trains every day at Royal Colombo Golf Club under the supervision of Kritsana Poonpol, a former pro with the Thai LPGA. Her short game is like a razor; the driver consistently hits over 240 yards. In June, she made the top five in the Turkish Airlines World Golf Cup qualifiers, and since then, her name has been all over the local press. Sri Lankan Golf Digest is already calling her “our Ko Jin-yeon.”
3. Netball’s Brightest Star in Full Command
She is 22, and she is not afraid of her opponents or the numbers on the scoreboard. On July 25, Chalani Nisha led the Sri Lanka U23 team to a match against India — and destroyed them: 71:30 at the Asian Junior Championship in South Korea. This is not an accident. This is a difference in class. From the center of the court, she led the game like a conductor: 31 assists, four interceptions, seven clean attack breakdowns. Control? Complete.
Before that, there was a confident victory over Hong Kong, and her every move is honed to the point of automatism. No wonder: since the age of 14, she has been working under the legendary Hycinth Wijesinghe. Her jump is 41 centimeters, and her passing accuracy at the tournament is over 92%. Nisha is already on the list of candidates for the main team before the 2026 Asian Cup, where Sri Lanka intends to break into the world’s top 10. And there are two contracts on the table: one league from Singapore, the other from Australia. This is not a “prospect”. This is a level that is already being paid for.
2. Sri Lanka’s Speed Demon on Four Wheels
Yevan David. Or, as the headlines have long written, “The Lion of the Track.” He is only 17, but on July 25, he snatched his fourth victory of the Euroformula Open season at the legendary Hockenheimring in Germany. And he snatched it literally – he overtook the two championship leaders on the last lap, brazenly, beautifully. This is not a hobby, not karting on weekends. This is a serious, high-speed, single-seater, where it’s either you or the wall.
This year, he has already traveled to six countries, collected four victories, nine podiums, and is now second in the overall standings. He trains in Spain under the wing of Campos Racing, accelerates to 278 km / h, and every time after the finish, he covers the hood with the Sri Lankan flag. On the body are the logos of Mobitel and CEAT, and a couple of weeks ago, Kumar Sangakkara wrote to him personally. Formula 3 fans are already buzzing about: scouts are watching, and Yevan is already stepping on the gas!
1. The Spinner Everyone Is Talking About
Travin Mathew, 20. Spins the ball like he was born with a cricket ball in his hand. He took 12 wickets in six matches at an economy rate of 6.2 in the Lanka T10 in late 2024 – and that was just the warm-up. He hasn’t slowed down in 2025 — he’s been burning up the inter-club T20s, and is now on the list for the series against Bangladesh, the final on July 30.
The selectors say he has a deceptively fast arm, a dirty drift, and he’s already spinning the carroom ball. He learned from Ajanta Mendis himself at Colombo Colts CC, and now has the best powerplay strike rate among under-23 spinners in all of South Asia (12.5). It’s not hype. It’s level. And with LPL 2025 on the horizon, don’t be surprised if he opens the bowling alley for the Colombo Strikers or Kandy Falcons. He’s not on his way. He’s already here.
Where These Young Stars Are Headed Next
They’re all on the cusp of something bigger. No longer ‘rising stars’ — they’re in the thick of it, in full swing. The going is only going to get higher, the going is only going to get tougher. Here’s where they’re headed now:
- Kalinga Kumarage: Targeting medals at the 103rd National Athletics Championships (August 1-3), with an eye on a spot in the 2026 Asian Games squad.
- Kaya Daluwatte: Finalising her preparations for the USGA Junior Girls Championship in August, followed by the Asia-Pacific Junior Tour.
- Chalani Nisha: Reaches the semi-finals of the Asian Junior Netball Championships, with a tryout for the senior team in October.
- Yevan David: Preparing for two rounds of Euroformula in August and September, followed by the official Formula 3 test in Barcelona.
They’ve already made a name for themselves. Now they’re playing for a legacy.
What Makes a Young Athlete Stand Out in Sri Lanka
What’s the secret behind this generation? Talent, yes — but also timing, system, hunger, and heart. These aren’t one-off stories. It’s a movement. Here’s what’s behind the surge:
| Edge | Why It Matters | Sri Lankan Example | What It Leads To |
| School Leagues | Hundreds of inter-school events yearly sharpen competition from a young age | Neesha led St. Joseph’s Girls’ U19 team | Consistent national youth pipeline |
| Private Coaching | Families now invest early in elite training | Kaya trains under Thai LPGA coaches | Faster skill development, fewer bad habits |
| Global Exposure | International tournaments build mindset and confidence | David’s full Euroformula schedule | Athletes handle pressure like pros |
| Tech & Analytics | Athletes use data apps to track performance and improve | Kumarage uses GPS sprint analytics daily | Measurable gains, smarter training |
Add social media, growing sponsorships, and rising national pride – and you’ve got a formula for greatness.
Greatness Starts Young — And These Stories Prove It
Look at them. Look what they’re doing. These athletes didn’t wait for a chance – they made one. No shortcuts. No excuses. From Diyagama to Dubai, they’re out there, writing the future in sweat, numbers, and pride. You don’t have to imagine Sri Lanka’s sporting future anymore. You’re watching it unfold. Right here. Right now.
