Sri Lanka has a promising tennis duo in the Kapilasena twins who are making a name for themselves currently based in England but very much hopeful of making the grade and playing for the land of their birth.
At age 15 Saha and Tyee Kapilasena, are now shining stars at Kings School Rochester in Kent County, England. Recently, Saha became the Under-16 Singles Champion at the 109th Sri Lanka National Tennis Championship held at the Sri Lanka Tennis Association courts in Colombo and his identical twin brother Tyee, who is just one minute younger, won the Kent County Championship Under-18 Mixed Doubles title.
The Kapilasena twins have made quite the mark in the tennis arena. Two years ago, Saha had already shown his potential with a noteworthy performance at the 107th Colombo Open Tennis Championships, winning the Under-14 Singles title.
Now, he continues his rise and notably he will still be eligible to compete in the Under-16 category next year as he remains in his first year of eligibility.
Tyee, who could not participate in the Sri Lankan Nationals due to his UK commitments, made an impact in England with his latest triumph in Kent County, where the locals affectionately call them the “Tennis Twins.”
Standing tall at six feet, Saha and Tyee are identical in almost every way, except for one striking difference—Saha plays left-handed while Tyee hits right-handed.
Their synchronized energy and joy for the sport set them apart from others.
Their journey began in Sri Lanka at the age of three, under the guidance of coach Jagath at the Women’s International Course. From there, they trained with coach Suminda at Queen’s Club and Sinhalese Sports Club (SSC) until they were 11. Before moving to Kent, England in 2022, they had a brief but impactful tutelage with the guidance of Sudantha Zoysa in Colombo.
Although the boys have trained in the UK for the past two years, their connection to Sri Lanka remains strong. They plan to return for next year’s Nationals, where both will compete in the Under-16 and Under-18 categories. As identical twins, they are a rare and exciting prospect for Sri Lankan tennis.
Now coached by Renouk Wijemanne while in Sri Lanka, Saha and Tyee continue to develop their skills. In addition to their tennis achievements, both brothers hold Black belts in karate, highlighting their discipline and dedication to sports.
Despite being only 15 years old, they are also First XI cricketers at their school, serving as left-arm and right-arm opening bowlers for King’s School Rochester in Kent. However, their true passion lies in tennis, where their joy and enthusiasm shine through, lighting up every match they play.
As they continue their journey, the Tennis Twins are undoubtedly the rising stars to watch on the tennis court.
