Teenager Ratnasiri and Karunaratne dazzle
Teenager Achini Ratnasiri and Niluka Karunaratne stamped their class as the best players when they won the singles crowns in the women’s and men’s tournaments respectively at the finals of the Badminton Nationals, worked off at the Royal College Sports Complex yesterday.
Ratnasiri’s win over the expereiced Chandrika de Silva was expected at the manner in which she played in the final. After outplaying her opponent in both sets (21-14,21-14) Ratnasiri said, "I am very happy to have won the singles and it was possible because I made very few mistakes today".
She thanked all her coaches who have helped her todate and said it wouldn’t have been possible to have made the mark if not for all of them. Ratnasiri is one of the yougest players to win the women’s singles nationals at age 15. The youngest player to win the women’s singles nationals is Namal de Silva who emerged champion in 1960 at the age of 13 years and eight months.
Ratnasiri earlier added another feather in her cap when she partnered Upuli Samanthika to win the women’s doubles finals against Subodha Dhahanayake and Gayani Perera. Ratnasiri and Samanthika won 21-5 and 21-5.
The experienced Niluka Karunaratne made short work out of his younger brother Dinuka when the two battled it out in the men’s singles finals. Niluka won quite easily recording a score of 21-14, 21-14.
The men’s doubles event produced a lot of excitement with Hasitha Chanaka and R.S.Dhahanayake playing their hearts out to beat Dinuka Karunaratne and Diluka Karunaratne. Chanaka and Dhahanayake won 21-18, 23-21.
The mixed doubles, which was worked off on Tuesday, was won by Chandrika de Silva and Niluka Karunaratne who beat Lekha Shehani and Dinuka Karunaratne.(www.island.lk)
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