Shuttlers aim to hog the limelight

Badminton in Sri Lanka might not enjoy super status, but the players and officials are aiming at associating themselves with the type of glory that the country’s cricketers have achieved at international level.

Interestingly, the Sri Lanka Badminton headquarters is situated just opposite the headquarters of Sri Lanka Cricket, at Maitland Crescent.

These shuttlers see the cricketers come and go in their flashy vehicles and the publicity they get on television, all because cricket in the country received a shot in the arm after the 1996 Cricket World Cup.

The upcoming South Asian Games (SA Games), presents a great opportunity for the sport to benefit from if the players win a rich haul of medals. Sri Lanka’s coach K. S. Pushpakumara is of the opinion that the players are aiming at gold medals at the next edition of the games which will be held in Bangladesh from February 4 to 28.

At the 2006 edition of the Games held in Sri Lanka, Sri Lanka managed to win two silver medals (Men’s and women’s team events) and four bronze medals in the individual events. According to coach Pushpakumara, the reason for the success was the team having ample time on their hands to prepare. "We also used a lot of scientific training," said Pushpakumara, who was entrusted to train the players at the last SA Games. For the record, Pushpakumara is a former national player and was the Sri Lanka coach at the SA Games in 1996, 1997, 2000, 2002 and 2006. He is also armed with a diploma obtained from the National Institute of Sports in Patiala, India and is also a BWF (World) Academy qualified coach.

He sees the SA Games as one of the best opportunities for Sri Lankan players to win medals in their own region. He also rates Sri Lanka at second place behind India in terms of how the badminton players have performed this year, in South Asia.

He is coaching the national players after a lapse of three years and observes that his charges have made good progress. "The young players have received a lot of exposure at foreign tournaments and it’s good to have the Asian Under-16 gold medal winning pair in the team to boost our chances of winning medals. The seniors too have made improvements and this is reflected in their game plan, fitness, accuracy and speed," he said.

He said that the Karunaratne brothers (Niluka, Dinuka and Diluka), carried Sri Lanka’s hopes in the men’s team, in terms of winning medals. "The doubles pair of R. S. Dhahanayake and Hasitha Chanaka are shaping up well and should do well in the tournament," he said.

Commenting on the women’s team, he said veteran player Chandrika De Silva had brought in a lot of experience to the side and a lot was expected from her. Pushpakumara, however, had a word of caution for De Silva, saying that she was playing in too many events and she should concentrate on a few events instead. The other promising women’s players in the side are Achini Ratnasiri and Upuli Samanthika Weerasinghe and Olympian Thilini Jayasinghe.

Members of the Sri Lanka team have also been blessed to have the services of Netherlands’ national coach Martin Van Doremaler who is working with the players. Doremaler, according to Pushpakumara, is expected to fine tune the training of the players. Pushpakumara said that Doremaler was happy with the progamme he had drawn up for the players.

The physical fitness of the players is handled by renowned fitness trainer Mohotilal Jayatilake and the manager of the team is Squadron Leader Amal Dias, who is also a member of the National Pool Management Committee.

The Sri Lanka team:

Niluka Karunaratne, Dinuka Karunaratne, Nuwan Hettiarachchi, Diluka Karunaratne, R. S. Dahanayake, and Hasitha Chanaka (Men). Achini Ratnasiri, Thilini Jayasinghe, Chandrika de Silva, Lekha Shehani, Upuli Samanthika and Nadeesha Gayathri (Women).
(www.island.lk)

Chanaka aims for international medal

Chanaka aims for international medal

Great sportspersons have amazing life stories and Hasitha Chanaka, a top level badminton player in the country has his own.

Although it’s in badminton that Chanaka has made a name for himself he has many facets to his life.

It was he who created the five rupee coin and the thousand rupee note that were published in 2007 after Sri Lanka’s cricket team emerged runners-up of the 2007 World Cup in the Caribbean.

Furthermore, he also opened batting with Upul Tharanga for the Darmasoka College cricket team and went onto captain the future Sri Lankan Test opener.

Often sports prevents athletes from pursuing their studies successfully, but not Chanaka. He got through his Advanced Level Examination with flying colours that too in Science stream and qualified for Sri Jayewardenepura University.

But he gave up that to pursue his interests in badminton and joined Sampath Bank, without whose support he says that excellence in the sport wouldn’t have been possible.

Teaming up with Rajitha Dahanayake, Chanaka came up with some stunning performances in the recently concluded National Badminton Championship.

The pair defeated the two brothers Diluka and Dinuka Karunaratne, who have lots of experience having won several national titles. Incidentally, the two brothers were declared the champion and the runner-up respectively in the singles event.

Chanaka who has represented Sri Lanka on several overseas tournaments is yet to win an international medal, but at the age of 25, there’s no doubt in his mind that he will be able to win a medal soon.

The highlight of his career was helping Sri Lanka to attain a higher international rank after taking part in Sudirman Cup in China last year under the captaincy of Thilini Jayasinghe where the team secured the 31st position recovering from number 36.

Chanaka said that his next aim is to enable the country win a medal in an international event.

"I am disappointed about certain things that I did in my life. But you can’t change the past. At the end of the day, I am happy with what I have achieved now," Chanaka said in an interview recently.

"I must thank the management of the Sampath Bank and the Marketing Division of the bank for helping me out to reach this level. Without their help, I wouldn’t have been able to come this far."

"I must thank my coaches as well namely Nishanthi Withanage, Kamani Silva, Danesh Mallayawadu, Sanjaya Sumanasiri, Pradeep Welagedara and Mothilal Jayathilake". Concluded Chanaka
(www.island.lk)

Sports Minister ratifies badminton selections

The Ministry of Sports has ratified the names of 12 players who were picked to represent Sri Lanka at the upcoming South Asian Games to be hosted by Bangladesh, this month.

According to a release issued by the Badminton Federation of Sri Lanka, the players named in the national team for the game are: Niluka Karunaratne, Dinuka Karunaratne, Nuwan Hettiarachchi, Diluka Karunaratne, R.S.Dahanayake, Hasitha Chanaka (Men), Achini Ratnasiri, Thilini Jayasinghe, Chandrika de Silva, Lekha Shehani, Upuli Samanthika, Nadeesha Gayathri. (RN)
(www.island.lk)

Niluka Karunaratne wins men’s singles crown

Badminton finds new queen Ratnasiri

Despite all the gloom in the badminton circles, the 57th National badminton Championships produced some sparks with the emergence of teenager Achini Ratnasiri as the new women’s singles champion.

Just a few days before this much looked forward to tournament there was chaos in badminton with some players refusing to contest trials for this month’s South Asian Games. But then all the top players in the country showed keen enthusiasm to play in the nationals which is considered the mother of all domestic tournaments.

Ratnasiri, a 16-year-old lass, ended the reign of veteran Chandrika de Silva in the women’s singles finals. Ratnasiri won 21-15, 21-15.

Stiff competition was expected to come De Silva’s way from Ratnasiri as the latter is already established in the badminton scene, despite her raw age. Ratnasiri last year teamed up with Upuli Samanthika and rewrote the Asian badminton record books by winning the gold medal in the girls under 16 doubles final.

Ratnasiri was in control from the first game itself and got the better of De Silva who looked drained of all energy, by the time of the women’s singles final. De Silva took part in the women’s singles, women’s doubles and the mixed doubles and many thought this was a little too much, considering her age. For the record De Silva had, till last year’s nationals, lost a singles final just once in her illustrious career during which she has bagged the singles crown 11 times. De Silva however, got some consolation when she won the mixed doubles finals when she teamed up with Niluka Karunaratne to beat Dinuka Karunaratne and Lekha Shehani 21-15, 21-11.

Niluka Karunaratne showed he is the king in the men’s category by winning the singles event for the ninth time. Karunaratne demolished his younger sibling Dinuka 21-14, 21-14 in a one-sided affair. It is interesting to see whether Karunaratne can make the ideal progress as a top player due to the lack of competition for him in the local scene. Karunratne will be one of Sri Lanka’s best bets at the upcoming SA Games to be held in Bangladesh.

The men’s doubles event produced the sparks at the finals which was witnessed by a sparse but appreciative crowd.

Hasitha Chanaka (an old boy of Dhamasoka Ambalangoda) and R.S.Dahanayake (An old boy of Dharmaraja College Kandy) teamed up to beat the number one ranked pair in the tournament, Diluka Karunaratne and Dinuka Karunratne (Brothers). Chanaka and Dhahanayake won 21-18, 23-21 in thrilling fashion, which was possible because they played attacking badminton.

Asian gold medal winning pair Achini Ratnasiri and Upuli Samanthika teamed up to beat Subodha Dhahanayake and Gayani Perera 21-5, 21-15 to win the women’s doubles finals.

There was a drop in the total number of matches at the nationals compared to past editions of the tournament. But the organizers of the tournament stressed that the important fact was that all top rated players took part in the tournament which was played over a period of four days at the Royal College Sports Complex, in Reid Avenue.

The players received certificates and medals but no cash prizes like in the past.
(www.island.lk)

Achini Ratnasiri badminton’s newest phenomenon

Achini Ratnasiri badminton’s newest phenomenon

Every now and then, there comes a sportsman or sportswoman who truly gains from playing a sport - a personality so modest, so respectful, so devoid of any hubris and yet intense, determined and confident.

This is Achini Ratnasiri the youngest National Badminton Champion at fifteen years of age. This O level student of Visakha Vidyalaya stands with calmness written on her chiseled features while her whole stance emanates energy. The outward calmness disguises the coiled up energy that is about to spring.

She has just defeated the National Champion of ten years – 35 year- old veteran, Chandrika de Silva in straight sets at the final of Sri Lanka’s National Badminton Championships. Of her game in the final – Achini says ‘I was confident of winning’.

She had a lot of encouragement from her school coach Danesh who told her that she was faster, stronger and definitely could play without making any mistakes.

As the game started, Achini says that she was very surprised by the many mistakes that Chandrika was making. But then she immediately covers it with -‘I don’t know if I am getting better or that she is losing her touch after winning so many matches in so many years.’

Anyhow the time has come for a young new champion to take over. She also beat Olympian Thilini Jayasinghe in the semi-finals. She widens her eyes in surprise at her own performance in three sets against Thilini where the fast paced game that she played helped her win.

Her family and up-bringing refuse to allow her to gloat or boast about her incredible achievement at such a young age. She is very matter of fact about her win. She does not have a personal coach. Never has had one. She used to watch her older sister Ruwini Chathurika play badminton at Lindsay Girls’ School every practice session. Looking at her, the teacher in charge told her mother to start off the nine year old Achini on badminton.

She played three times a week with Lindsay Girls’ School’s coach Srimal Aponso until she joined Visakha Vidyalaya last year. Now, as a member of the National pool, coach Pushpakumara and physical trainer Jayathilake play a big role in helping her develop her game. She is playing better than ever before. Her weakness in her short serve has almost been ironed out.

‘My strength’ she says with a smile is the ‘chop’ shot. She practices very hard at it and is the ‘chop specialist’. This shot helps speed up her game and makes it very difficult for an opponent who does not have too much stamina.

About her game, Achini says with child-like intensity ‘my being left-handed is definitely a big advantage.’ Usually most badminton players have a weak back-hand and the opponent tries to use that weakness to their advantage. In her case, however, it has always been very difficult for the opponent to figure out that what they think is her back hand is really her forehand.

Badminton is also very much a mind-game. You need to assess the strengths and weaknesses of your opponent as you play. Achini says that usually when she looks at the way a person walks and stands, she can make out what kind of player her opponent is.

In Sri Lanka badminton is fast gaining National and International recognition. That they even ‘went on various International coaching camps and have won gold medals for the doubles at the Asian Junior Championships in 2008 is because of the interest and support that the new President of the Sri Lanka Badminton Association Ranjith de Silva has shown’ says Achini.

Achini is the Under 17 National Age group Triple Crown champion as well. (Winner of singles, doubles and mixed doubles) and is sponsored by Yonex with regard to her racquets and shoes. However, in Sri Lanka, playing badminton alone cannot take you far in life. ‘Studies are very important’ says young Achini.

‘I would love to play in the Olympics and World Championships but my O levels loom in the horizon. I do want to get a gold medal at the SAAF Games in February in Bangladesh. But as I am young and inexperienced, maybe I may not do so but that does not deter me. I will use this experience well till I can get a gold medal for my country. I will watch the other countries play and see if and how they are better’ says Achini determinedly.

She knows that she has to do well in her O levels and then Advanced levels. She does not have a mobile phone and does not watch TV. She wants to become an accountant but is keen to get a gold medal in a world championship before she settles down to a regular life of making a living. Badminton has taught her modesty and gratitude. Most of all gratitude to those including her Principal, teachers, coaches and parents who have helped her achieve National status.

Achini is very unlike the unscrupulous ‘I must win come what may’ sportsman with a killer instinct that one usually sees in a young person who has become the Number One.

(www.dailynews.lk)