Damitha Yatawara - a rising star in badminton

Upananda Jayasundera - Kandy Sports Special Corr.

BADMINTON: Damitha Bandara Yatawara of D.S. Senanayake College, Colombo is one of the most up-and-coming badminton players.

He has secured Champions Trophy at the Colombo and Central Zone Badminton Tournaments (Singles) in the year 2008.

Yatawara has also won the Kandy Zone Doubles Championship partnered by P.K. Hettiarachchi of Dharmaraja College, Kandy. He won these titles at the under-15 age category.

Damitha started his badminton career at the age of 10 years and was runner-up at the under-11 age category of the D.S. Senanayake College Annual Badminton Tournament in 2004. In the same year as under-13 player won the Colombo District Inter-Schools Doubles Championship. This tournament was organised by Vidura College, Colombo.

In the year 2005, Damitha was the All Island Champion of the Under-12 ('B' Division) D.S. Senanayake badminton team. He is also the under-13 singles and doubles champion in the year 2006.

In addition to that he was also the under-13 champion at the Austasia Sports Day Badminton Tournament. In the year 2007, he was the doubles champion at the University of Jayawardenepura Junior Badminton Championship.

Damitha's father Udaya Yatawara played cricket, rugby, soccer and he was a fine athlete at Dharmaraja College, Kandy, he has never played badminton, but allowed his son to participate in that game as it was his son's wish.