Eighteen year old Hasali Sanaya Buddhadasa, a table tennis playing Sri Lankan domiciled in Australia, is preparing to represent the country at the Youth World Championships in Sweden beginning November 28, marking her third appearance at this elite competition.
For Sanaya, who started playing table tennis in Sri Lanka as a young child, the journey to the world stage has been one of dedication, resilience and bold choices.
Now a dual citizen of Sri Lanka and Australia, she is one of the few players to have represented both nations and is a rising star in her sport.
Sanaya’s father, Dr. Gihan Buddhadasa, who served two decades at Lady Ridgeway Hospital, recalls the start of her journey in Sri Lanka. He and his wife, Harshani, a psychology counsellor, encouraged Sanaya to balance sports with academics from an early age. “We introduced her to many sports, but she was drawn to table tennis,” he says.
Sanaya, a student at Vishakha Vidyalaya in Colombo, began training at school and quickly developed a natural feel for the game. Recognising her talent, her parents enlisted the help of private coaches to help her develop her skills.
“My first coaches in Sri Lanka were Nuwan Sampath, Dinesh Deshapriya, Namal Gunasekara and Vajira Wickramasingha. When we moved to Australia, I trained with Felix Sung, a Chinese coach, in Sydney,” she remembers with gratitude.
“My interest in table tennis started when my mom showed me clips of various sports. The table tennis serve caught my attention immediately – I loved the high toss and precision of it. I started after-school training and discovered I had a knack for the sport, which made me want to keep playing. Eventually, it became a part of who I am,” explains Sanaya.
By age 12, Sanaya’s talent was undeniable. She had won multiple age-group titles and earned a spot in Sri Lanka’s under-15 team, where she competed internationally, winning a silver medal at the South Asian Games in the Maldives. These early experiences not only shaped her game but also fuelled her dreams of reaching the highest levels in table tennis.
“In Sri Lanka, I remember winning the under-15 title at a national tournament around the age of 12. This year, I won my first Oceania Championship gold medals for Australia in the under-19 category in both team and individual events. I also won gold in all four events under-21 – teams, singles, doubles and mixed doubles. Last year, I won the team gold and silver in singles at the Oceania event, but this year was particularly special as I achieved a clean sweep in the under-21,” says Sanaya on her most memorable performances.
“I’m an attacking player with a shake-hand grip, using smooth rubbers on my paddle. Table tennis is more than just technique; it requires physical strength, mental focus and agility. Since the sport runs year-round without an off-season, I focus heavily on endurance, incorporating running and swimming to build stamina.
“I also go to the gym five days a week to work on strength training, which is crucial for the explosive movements in table tennis,” she explains of her playing style.
“Height plays a role, but not as much as in sports like basketball. At about average height for table tennis, I think I’m in good company since many top female players from China, for example, are around 5’6”,” she explains.
“I enjoy painting and playing Sudoku in my free time. It’s nice to unwind with things that keep my mind engaged and I feel they even help improve my focus for matches,” adds Sanaya.
In 2014, Sanaya’s family made a life-changing decision to relocate to Australia. With her mother securing Permanent Residency, they saw Australia as a place where Sanaya could access world-class facilities and stronger competitive opportunities. They initially settled in Sydney, where Sanaya began training with a local coach and competed in inter-state matches. “We wanted her to have the best opportunities, even though it meant starting over in a new country,” her father shares.
Her dedication paid off when, during a tournament in Canberra, she caught the attention of Australia’s national table tennis coaches. After observing her talent and competitive spirit, they invited her to train with the national squad, which was based in Melbourne. Seizing the opportunity, her family moved to Melbourne in 2016 to allow Sanaya to pursue intensive training with Australia’s top players.
In Melbourne, Sanaya trained at the Loops Centre, a premier facility where both junior and senior national squads hone their skills. Practicing alongside some of Australia’s best players, she was able to elevate her game to new heights. Her father recalls the impact of the move. “Training with Australia’s national team gave her exposure to the kind of high-performance environment that helped her grow both mentally and physically.”
Within a few years, she rose to become the number one player in both the under-17 and under-19 categories in Australia. Her impressive performance in national tournaments also led to opportunities abroad, where she gained invaluable experience competing and training in countries like the United States, Thailand and Germany. This international exposure steadily improved her world ranking, bringing her closer to her goal of one day competing in the Olympics.
For Sanaya, the Olympics has always been her ultimate target. She dreams of representing Australia on the world’s biggest stage in 2028.
“My ultimate goal is to qualify for the 2028 Olympics. Academically, I want to become a physiotherapist. Through my injuries and recovery, I’ve been helped by great physios, and I want to support others in the same way one day,” she says humbly.
Despite representing Australia, Sanaya remains deeply connected to her Sri Lankan heritage. She appreciates the opportunity to represent both countries and hopes to inspire young athletes in Sri Lanka to pursue their dreams, no matter where they are.
“As a dual citizen of Sri Lanka and Australia, I’m honoured to represent both. Being the first Sri Lankan to play for Australia in table tennis means a lot to me, and I hope it inspires other Sri Lankans to pursue their dreams, whether in sports or academics,” says Sanaya.
Her family, especially her younger brother Rivindu, has been a constant source of support. “My brother Rivindu is now 16 and also shows a lot of promise in table tennis. He’s part of his state team and is progressing quickly – he definitely has a bright future in the sport,” she shares.
As she gears up for the Youth World Championships in Sweden, Sanaya’s schedule is intense. She recently spent a two-week break in Sri Lanka before heading to Portugal for pre-tournament training with the Australian national team. This preparation will include working closely with Australia’s head coach, who has arranged a rigorous training programme in Portugal for Sanaya and her teammates.
In Sweden, Sanaya will compete in the singles, doubles and mixed doubles categories, each of which requires specific skills and strategies. Her current global ranking of 110 in the under-19 category, coupled with her recent gold medals at the Oceania Championships, underscores her capability and commitment to success on the world stage.
As the first Sri Lankan to play for Australia in table tennis, Sanaya hopes her journey inspires others. Her journey is a testament to the possibilities that hard work, family support and an unwavering commitment to one’s goals can open up. As she steps onto the world stage in Sweden, she carries with her the dreams of two nations and a promise to continue her journey of growth, ambition and excellence.
