The making of a champion

Niluka Karunaratne’s selection for the 2012 London Olympics has great significance because he has achieved this feat by getting rated within the top 50 singles players in the world.

Niluka has been the ‘king of badminton’ in Sri Lanka for a while. However, critics often posed the question whether the champ could reach international heights due to the lack of competition for him in Sri Lanka. After many attempts at qualifying for the Olympics, the 27-year-old finally made the grade this year thanks to a marathon run he had in contesting 13 international tournaments from which he emerged the victor on five occasions. Many, including some of his friends who are professional badminton players, opined that he’ll not make it to the 2012 Olympics. "Niluka never lost focus of his goal which was the Olympics," Louvie Karunaratne, his father, told Sunday Island Sportstar.

Louvie, Niluka’s mentor, who also plays a role in his son’s coaching, said that his son was confident of his Olympic berth many months ago even though the official announcement was made only last week. The World Badminton Federation ratings as at May 3 (the day the list of Olympians in badminton was made public) revealed that the Sri Lankan was rated 47th, the furthest a male badminton player from this island has progressed in world rankings.

Niluka’s plea is for the Sri Lanka Badminton Federation to provide him with more help and offer him the services of a foreign coach. He said he is playing his best badminton at the moment and added, "I have never felt so confident in my badminton career. I am training six hours a day like a professional. The big challenge now is to be in form because there is over two months more for the games," Niluka said.

His father said that the world hasn’t seen the best of Niluka as yet and that his son was expected to hit his peak before the Olympics.

According to Louvie, Niluka gets up at 4.30 am in the morning and has his first training session at the SLBA courts in Colombo. He has lunch at 1pm and is back again for more training at 4.pm. He returns home around 7.30 pm, arranges all what he needs the next day and says his prayers for the second time of the day before retiring to bed by 9pm. He expects silence to be maintained there onwards and all members of the family comply without a fuss because they all know it is a must to contribute towards a champion’s cause.

Louvie said that Niluka could have qualified for the Olympics in 2004, but lack of support prevented him from seeing his dream come true. In 2008 he was knocking on the door for an Olympic slot again, but Niluka contacted Chikungunya which forced him to shelf his ideas of making the Sri Lanka contingent for the Beijing Olympics in China. In his third attempt he succeeded, but that was a grueling task of working his way up in the rankings from 147 to 47. Some badminton experts in the world are still baffled how he did it! "He surely has to be one of the fastest to qualify for the Olympics because he did it in about five months" said Louvie.

Louvie, a former badminton player himself and an ex-SLBF official, said that if players with talent like Niluka are spotted and nurtured, the sport of badminton had the potential to produce champions and be more popular than cricket in this country. "We must acknowledge that it was after the 1996 cricket world cup victory that money started to come in to all sports in Sri Lanka. But if an analysis is made on the earnings of an international cricketer and a player who wins a couple of titles at the Badminton Super Series, the shuttler definitely makes a lot more money during a year," said Niluka’s father. Louvie said it was with great difficulty that he was funding Niluka’s needs in badminton. He was quick to mention the generous sponsorship that has been afforded to his son by Rohan de Silva of Mclarence Group of Companies.

Louvie said all that fame has not changed his son. "He will go out of his way to help people. At times he is so generous he’ll give whatever he has to others. When he goes to eat out he looks around if there is someone he knows whom he can buy meal. He is open to ideas and corrects himself. The only concern is that he has no life outside badminton, but then this is one of the demands when playing like a professional," his father said.

Niluka is at present training under the watchful eyes of a Malaysian coach at the SLBF courts in Colombo. ‘We can’t forget the inputs made to Niluka’s career by coaches like Pushpakumara, Pradeep Welagedara, Shrimal Aponsu and SLBF coach Dhanushka Fernando, " said Louvie.

Many Sri Lankans have been part of the island’s contingent during past Olympics. Some just made the numbers without proper training and for some the Games served them with vital experience. What are Niluka’s goals at the upcoming Olympics? "It is difficult to talk about goals right now because the draw for the Games is not out yet. But come what may, Niluka plans to give a good fight to whoever his opponent may be," said Louvie.

In 2003 Niluka was praised for performances against Chinese player Chen Jin (Present world ranking 4th) at the World Juniors, where he went down fighting in a three-setter. A leading badminton magazine paid a tribute to the Sri Lankan by referring him to uncut diamond’. That diamond has been cut and polished over the years and is ready for exhibition among other diamonds of the world.

(www.island.lk)

A glimpse of hope for Thilini

Sri Lanka’s Top woman shuttler Thilini Jayasinghe, who competed at the Last Olympic Game in Beijing, has a glimpse of hope in making her way to the London Olympics this year. According to the selections, done by the world governing body for Badminton, she has been included in the stand bye list at third position.

Though the selections were made by the governing body, it is left for the respective governing bodies of participating countries to make the final decision on players representing the Olympic Games.

In the event of any three competitors failed to confirm their participation, it is the stand byes who fill these slots. It is left to be seen whether Thilini will stand a chance to present herself for a second time in Olympics.

Respective governing bodies have to confirm their athletics on or before May 10.

(www.dailymirror.lk)

Niluka’s Olympic berth confirmed

Niluka’s Olympic 

berth confirmed

Sri Lanka’s Shuttle star Niluka Karunaratne’ participation at the forth coming London Olympic is confirmed by the Governing Body for the based in Malaysia. According to the ranking of the participants Niluka is placed in the 30th slot out of 38 in the men’s category thereby assuring him to compete in the Men’ Singles.

The Governing body has already finalized 172 men and women competitors for Singles, Doubles and Mixed Doubles events. These shyutlers are selected from 50 countries will represent their own country in respective categories. According to the world rankings conducted by the World Body Niluka who was earlier is in the 50th position now has come to the 47 position after he won five international tournaments in the recent past.

The only Badminton star from Sri Lanka battle in Olympics was Niroshan Wijekoon when he received a wild card for same. He is due to leave Spain to compete in an international championship and will move to Poland for a training stint before returning to the island.

( www.dailymirror.lk)

 

Niluka reaches 48th place in BWF rankings

Niluka reaches 48th place in  

BWF rankings

 

Sri Lanka's number one badminton player, Niluka Karaunaratne has climbed to the 48^th position in World rankings. The latest rankings were issued on Thursday. Karunaratne, placed 26^th slot among the 38 badminton players already qualified for London Olympics, skipped the recently held Asian championships in order to keep himself fit for the pinnacle event.

"In Sri Lanka, there's no one to give me a tough match. Because of that, I decided to play international tournaments and came this far. As I won in many tournaments, McLerances Limited helped me a lot" "I believe at-least now, the badminton officials in Sri Lanka would give me a proper recognition, putting aside their personnel agendas" Karunaratne said. Karunaratne is planning for three months intense training prior to London Olympics.

(www.dailymirror.lk)

Thilini gets another opportunity in China

Thilini gets another opportunity in China 

Former national champion, Thilini Jayasinghe will have yet another opportunity to book her ticket to London Olympics, provided she appears in the major segment in the Asian Badminton Championships to be held in Shandong, China.

The tournament is to be held from 17 to 22 at Qingdao Sports Centre Conson Stadium, China.

Jayasinghe, currently ranked at 107^th among world's women's badminton players, has 13,583 rating points. She is the highest ranked Sri Lankan women's player as veteran Chandrika de Silva at 141 and current national champion, Achini Ratnasiri at 155 in the world rankings.

Only 38 men and women players will be selected to the Olympic Games to be held in London and it's only Jayasinghe has more opportunity according to the current situation. However, the challenge remains as most of the top level badminton players coming from the South East Asian countries.

Defending national champion Niluka Karunaratne, who has already been selected to represent Sri Lanka in the London Olympics, too takes part in the Asian Championships. Karunaratne is currently ranked 49^th among world badminton players.

(www.dailymirror.lk)

Shuttlers stake claim for highest number of medals in 2011

Shuttlers stake claim for highest number of medals in 2011

Year-end review badminton

Sri Lanka’s badminton whipped up a lot of controversy this year, but despite the gloom there were many moments to remember, thanks to the efforts of the players.

Leave alone the controversy, there was so much good news that badminton generated, but much of the information about these achievements, strangely, weren’t given to the media.

SLBF President Parakrama Basnayake affirmed that this was perhaps the most successful year at badminton with the country winning eight gold medals, three silver medals and three bronze medals. He believes no other discipline can match this rich haul of medals won by the badminton players this year (2011).

The players had plenty of tours, but how selections were made and the large numbers that got to represent the country came in for questioning by the badminton fraternity. Most of the tours that were approved by the Sri Lanka Badminton Federation (SLBF) came in for severe criticism because of the large contingents which were sent to represent the country, giving scant regard to the fact that only the best should represent the nation.

As a result, so many Sri Lankans made first round exits at international tournaments and squandered hard earned finances of sponsors, the sports ministry or well-wishers. In economics there is a saying, ‘there is no free meal. Someone has to pay for it’.

In this negative environment it was heartening to see schoolgirls Achini Ratnasiri and Upuli Samanthika Weerasinghe shine above all in bringing glory to the country through their exploits in the international badminton scene. The pair won gold medals at the Iran Fajir International and the Bangladesh International Series, but the moment to remember came at the Youth commonwealth Games (Isle of Man) when the duo bagged the bronze medal for Sri Lanka.

Men’s singles national champion Niluka Karunaratne shrugged off a year to forget, which was last year, and showed he was ready to continue in top gear after the suspension on him was lifted.

He was a force in all domestic tournaments and once again underscored the fact that competition in the Sri Lankan men’s circuit has to be revved up if improvement is to be seen in this division. The men’s division at home was dominated by Niluka and his brother Dinuka. Hence the guarded stroke play between them failed to generate spectator interest whenever they met in the men’s singles finals in domestic competitions.

Karunaratne (Senior) added more feathers to his cap when he won the men’s singles gold at the Bill Graham Miami International (USA), Yonex Welsh International and the Puerto Rico International Challenge this year.

Sri Lanka’s veteran badminton player Renu Chandrika de Silva has reached a crossroads this year where she has to decide whether she will play in the veterans or the women’s open singles. Her gold medal winning feat at the World Senior Badminton Championships (2011) saw Sri Lanka irrupt in joy. This is also a time for her to reflect on her career and judge for herself whether she should pursue tournaments in the ‘veterans’ event, a segment which bears all signs that she’s on the right track.

But then again, like Niluka, Chandrika too has Olympic dreams and chasing them would force her to play alongside the younger aged players and also contest women’s open singles events at international tournaments. A banker by profession, Chandrika must take a right decision regarding her future because still, as we know, its players like her who keep the present generation of players on their toes in the women’s segment at home.

Olympian Thilini Jayasinghe participated in many international events, but her form at these events didn’t complement her lofty ambitions in badminton. She could manage just a silver medal (Mixed doubles at the Bangladesh International Series) and a bronze medal in the women’s singles at the Zimbabwe International Series. At this juncture, we watch with interest as Jayasinghe battles to qualify for the 2012 London Olympics.

Another player who caught the eyes of fans was young Thilini Hendahewa who made the women’s singles final at the nationals and went down fighting to Ratanasiri.

The badminton federation came in for praise for appointing an official coach in Dhanushka Fernando for badminton.

(www.island.lk)

Two golds for Sri Lanka at Bangladesh International Badminton

Achini Ratnasiri and Upuli Samanthika Weerasinghe did Sri Lanka proud when they won the gold medal in the women’s doubles at the Bangladesh International Series in Bangladesh on Saturday, local badminton sources told ‘Sunday Island.’

Ratnasiri also won the gold medal in women’s singles.

The tournament was held from Dec. 7-10 at the Wooden Floor Gymnasium, Bangabandu Stadium Complex, Paltan Maidan Dhaka, Bangladesh.

(www.island.lk)

Niluka strikes gold in Puerto Rico

Niluka strikes gold in Puerto Rico

Sri Lanka’s NilukaKarunaratne did Sri Lanka proud by winning the gold medal in the men’s open singles at the Puerto Rico International Challenge, badminton sources told The Island.

Karunaratne had won all his matches to achieve this feat at the tournament which was held from November 2-6 at the city of San Juan.

Sri Lanka Badminton Federation President ParakramaBasnayake told The Island that the feat would certainly help Karunaratne in his quest to qualify for the 2012 London Olympics. (RN)

(www.island.lk)

Niluka badminton champ for past decade

Niluka badminton champ for past decade

By Chris Dhambarage
The dream of every badminton player is to win the national crown and to repeat that feat for ten successive years is a rare and unique achievement indeed.
This is what Niluka Karunaratne performed last week where he retained the men’s singles title for the tenth successive year by overcoming his younger brother Dinuka Karunaratne in straight sets in the final.

“I played against my other younger brother four years ago, but this is the first time I met my second younger brother in a final. I have won the triple crown for two years, doubles for four years and the singles event for ten years,” said Niluka soon after his success.
However the 26-year-old shuttler believes that winning the national men’s singles title for the first time as a schoolboy was one of the most memorable achievements in his career.
“I won my first national singles title in 2001 when I was 16 years old. I beat Manjula Fernando in the finals. Winning for the first time is the most memorable one for me. I was the youngest to win the men’s national championship in Sri Lankan badminton.”

Niluka attributed his success to sheer hard work, commitment and discipline where he spends a lot of time preparing ahead of a major ranking tournament.
“It was always a tough task to maintain my form and consistency throughout. I always felt that there are so many players following behind to beat me and win the nationals.
“I really worked hard to maintain that standard and keep the momentum going for the past ten years. I believe that winning the men’s national title is the most important thing in my life.
“I wanted to defend the national title every time I started a fresh tournament. So I have been working hard for this tournament more than any other event in the Sri Lanka badminton calendar.
“I prepare for the nationals at least two to three months prior to the tournament. I start my training very early and that has helped me to overcome the pressure from the other players.

“I have been playing against the same players now for more than three to four years and I know their style of play well, also their strengths and weaknesses on the court.”
Niluka further stated that he is proud of his achievements as a badminton player and will continue to play hard in an attempt to improve on his world rankings.
“I am the only player in the history of Sri Lankan badminton to be unbeaten for ten years in any men’s singles open tournament. I have sacrificed many things for the love of the game and will continue to strive for success in the coming years.

“I have been representing Sri Lanka in badminton from the age of 15. Since then I have played in several major events including the Asian Games, Asian Championships, Commonwealth Games, World Championships and World team championships.”
Niluka also stated that coming into the final 16 in the Asian Championships and reaching the pre-quarterfinals of the Commonwealth Games were some of the major highlights in his career.
“I have played against some of the best in the World and came into the pre quarterfinals in the Asian Championships in 2003 held in Indonesia when I was 19 years old.
“That was a very big achievement in my life and once again I came into the quarterfinals of the Commonwealth Games tournament held in Melbourne, Australia in 2006.

“This is the highest achievement ever by a Sri Lankan badminton player in a Commonwealth Games tournament. Then I came into the pre-quarterfinals of the 2010 Commonwealth Games held in New Delhi, India.
“I was the runner-up in the Australian open tournament in 2005, Wales open final in 2003 and Iran open championship series finals in 2007. My best world ranking was 71 in the men’s singles in the year 2006/07.”
However Niluka is still disappointed that he could not make it to the last Olympic Games due to an illness and is determined to make his mark in the rest of the tournaments lined up for this year.

“Last year I was ranked 81 and came close to playing in the Olympic Games. However I was down with fever and missed out a couple of tournaments and because of that I could not make it.
“Next month I will be going for the Puerto Rico International Challenge, then to Miami, from there to England for three other international tournaments and thereafter to Italy for another international open event,” concluded Niluka Karunaratne.

(www.nation.lk)

Shuttle queen Achini on the throne

Visaka College schoolgirl Achini Ratnasiri underscored the fact that starting early in sport guarantees huge success when she bagged her third national women’s singles open title at the 59th Badminton Nationals which were worked off at Royal Sports Complex recently.

Achini is a gem this country possesses and the badminton fraternity watches with interest what plans the authorities have for this lass who has already put Sri Lanka on the World Map of badminton. Her father, KM Ratnasiri, told Sportstar that her daughter has the potential to win many more medals at international level, but as parents, he and his wife couldn’t support her financially when it comes to funding Achini’s foreign tours, which are costly.

Badminton critics point out that contesting the occasional international tournament, each year, will not take Sri Lankan badminton players anywhere. Achini told this writer the other day that she wished to see her playing at the 2012 Olympic Games. But then, these thoughts will be restricted to one’s dreams if someone doesn’t do the ground work or have a solid programme for the players. Achini’s father Ratnasiri said that he was eager to see whether the Sri Lanka Badminton Federation or the Ministry of Sports will come up with a solid programme to cater to the needs of teenage sensations in sport like her daughter.

There is good news about Achini. Her father says she will continue in the sport despite winning the national singles crown for the third consecutive year. What could be looked upon as bad news is that Achini, according to her father, might not remain for long in badminton after realizing her goals. There is nothing wrong in a sportswomen calling it quits early if her career is dotted with achievements. Most female badminton players, according to renowned coach Chinthaka Fernando, who also coached Achini at the 2009 Asian Juniors, believes it is accepted in the badminton scene that players start young and finish young, which, then enables them, especially women, to concentrate on other things in life.

According to Ratnasiri, his daughter has shown a lot of interest in pursuing her studies which are aimed at sitting for the advanced level examination for which her subjects will be Logic, media and Economics, the latter which she hopes to change to Political Science in the future.

Though Achini has shown a lot of promise in sport from the start, her parents believe badminton in Sri Lanka doesn’t offer the players a promising future. Ratnasiri believes recognition as a national sports star can encourage players, but one needs money to live and badminton doesn’t offer that security to players. Hence Achini doesn’t spend the whole day playing badminton and shares her time between going to the gymnasium, attending school and dabbling in a little tuition.

Achini was greatly influenced by her elder sister to take to badminton. She started playing at the age of eight years and her coach from the inception Shimal Aponsu has been with her to date. Achini also acknowledges the contributions made to her career by the coach at school, Danesh Malliyawadu and her fitness trainer Mothilal Jayatilake. The turning point in her career came when she together with Upuli Samanthika won the girls’ doubles event at the Asian Junior Championships in 2009, which Sri Lanka hosted. Since then, she has performed well alongside her partner (Upuli) in international events, winning the gold medal at the Iran Fajir International and the bronze medal at the Youth Commonwealth Games in Isle of Man, both these achievements coming this year.

Her achievements in badminton have helped her obtain sponsorships from David Peiris Motor Company and at present from McLarence. Says Ratnasiri, "These kids are young and they value a little appreciation for their achievements. When they are not appreciated, these kids can get a little depressed".

He says he has not put any restrictions on Achini’s life and allows her daughter to have the freedom other girls of her age enjoy. "The only issue is that her tight schedule in badminton and school doesn’t provide her with time for other things," he says. However, Achini has not grumbled about the tight schedule she follows as a 17-year-old girl and her father says, "Achini makes all the sacrifices willingly".

Achini is the leading figure in Sri Lanka badminton and the authorities scheduling her final against Thilini Hendahewa as the last event at the badminton nationals suggests she has the potential to entertain a gathering. Badminton, which was once dominated by males, is now dominated by women. It would not be contested if she is termed the ‘Queen of badminton in Sri Lanka’.

(www.island.lk)

Niluka in line for a triple crown

Niluka in line for a triple crown

The Karunaratne brothers Dinuka and Niluka will meet in the final of the men's singles final event at the 59th Badminton Nationals Championship conducted at the Royal College Sports Complex Badminton courts, at Stanley Wijesundera Mawatha, Colombo today.

Defending champion for over a decade, Niluka Karunarante has entered the final of all three events and is in line for the triple crown. In the first men's semi - final Dinuka Karunaratne beat Lasitha Menaka 21-16, 21-9 while his brother Niluka Karunaratne got the better of Nuwan Hettiarachchi 21-6, 21-9 in the second semi final.

The finals have been advanced to 1.00 pm and the Minister of Sports Mahindananda Aluthgamage will be the chief guest.

[Results all semi finals ]

Men's singles semi finals: Dinuka Karunaratne beat Lasitha Menaka 21-16,21-9 Niluka Karunaratne beat Nuwan Hettiarachchi 21-6, 21-9.

Men's doubles semi finals: R.S.Dahanayake and Hasitha Chanaka beat Nuwan Hattiarachchi and Kasun 21-9,22-20 Niluka and Dinuka Karunaratne beat Uditha 21-10, 21-16.

Women's Singles: Achini Ratnasiri beat Kavidi Ishadika 21-16,21-15 Thilini Pramodhika beat Nadeesha Gayanthi 21-19, 21-8

Women's doubles semi finals: Achini Ratnasiri and Upuli Samanthika beat Lekha Shehani and Thilini Jayasinghe 21-14, 221-13.

Chadrika de Silva and Susmika beat punisha and Manishi 12-21,21-16.

Mixed doubles: Nuwan Hettiarachchi and Achini Ratnasiri beat Hasitha and Thilini Jayasinghe 21-18,21-8. Niluka Karunaratne and Kavidi beat Chandrika de Silva and Lasitha Menaka 21-15,21-14.

(www.sundayobserver.lk)

Achini, Upuli win bronze medal

Achini Ratnasiri and Upuli Samanthika won the bronze medal in the women's badminton doubles at at the Youth Commonwealth Games which is currently in progress in Isle of Man, United Kingdom. The Sri Lankan pair beat Australia in the consolation finals by 2-1. The scores were recorded as 12/21, 21/19 and 16/21
(www.dailymirror.lk)