Shuttle double for Achini

Shuttle double for Achini

The 58th National Badminton Championships concluded on a grand note at the Royal College indoor sports complex yesterday. Achini Ratnasiri won a double in the women’s tournament while Dinuka Karunaratne clinched the Men’s Singles title.

Women’s National Badminton champion Achini Ratnasiri in action. Picture by Prince Gunasekara

Achini beat Chandrika de Silva in the women’s singles final by 21/12, 23/21 and in the Women’s doubles final Achini with her partner Upuli Weerasinghe won over Amali Amarasinghe and Nadeesha Gayanthi (21/13, 21/6).

Dinuka Karunaratne overcame Eranga Fernando (21/14, 21/7) in the Men’s singles Final. Dinuka is the brother of nine time National Champion Niluka Karunaratne.

In the men’s doubles final match R S Kasun and Nuwan Hettiarachchi won over Hasitha Chanaka and R S Dahanayake (21/18, 18/21, 21/17) after a close contest.

Lasitha Menaka and Chandrika de Silva edged out Nuwan Hettiarachchi and Achini Ratnasiri in the Mixed doubles final match (11/21, 21/16, 21/17).

The chief guest at the awards ceremony Sports Minister Mahindananda Aluthgamage addressing the gathering appealed to parents to encourage children to take part in sports as the Government has negotiated with the Higher Education Ministry to consider 10 admissions to the university faculties on the basis of international sports events participation.

He further explained the Sports Ministry’s new scheme of monthly payment to National and international level players. “Badminton will be a main hope of a medal for Sri Lanka in the 2018 Commonwealth Games,” the Minister said.

Sri Lanka Badminton Association officials, School players and a large number of people were present at the event.

Other results:

Plate Championships

Girl’s: Yashmitha Wedamulla beat Sithara Jinithanjala (21/13, 21/14).

Boy’s: Senura Hapuarachchi won over Hirantha Thilekaratne (13/21, 21/15, 21/17)

Over 40 singles

Niroshan Wijekoon beat Clarance Homer (21/11, 14/21, 21/7)

Over 40 doubles

Clarance Homer and Harsha Hettiarachchi won over Darshana Senarathne and Niroshan Wijekoon (21/16, 21/19)

Over 50 singles

Parakrama Basnayake beat W Ariyasena (21/16, 14/21, 22/20)

Over 50 doubles

Parakrama Basnayake and N Gunasiri won over W Ariyasena and S Perera (21/15, 21/15)

(www.dailynews.lk)

Thilini Jayasinghe stretched to three sets

Thilini Jayasinghe was stretched to three sets before overcoming Suboda Dahanayake 21/09, 24/26. 21/19 in a women’s singles, second round match on the opening day of the 58th National Badminton Championships yesterday at the Royal College Sports Complex.

Results

Women’s singles. Lihini Wijesinghe beat M. Ptiyankara 21/16, 21/17, Chandrika Perera beat N. Lakmini 21/09 21/08. Maneshi Fonseka beat Y. Jayarathne 21/08, 21/11. Upuli Samanthika beat Y. Wedamulla 21/14, 21/13. Thilini Jayasinghe beat C. Nirmali 21/07, 21/12. Suboda Dahanayke beat S. Ruwanari 21/08, 21/08. Gayani Perera beat R. Widyani 2/04, 21/106. Thilini Pramodika beat U. Ratnayake 21/06, 21/06. Lihini Wijesinghe beat R, Chathurika 21/16, 21/17. Kavindi Ishandika beat K.M. Ranmuthu 21/01, 21/17. Amali Amarasinghe beat T. Wijesinghe 21/02, 21/08. Leka Shehani beat N. Hettiarachchci 21/04, 21/08. P. Pasqual beat D. Ranmuthu 21/06, 21/06. Nadeesha Gayanthri beat K Silva 21/07, 21/04. Sachini Samarasinghe beat M. Ranawara 21/06, 21/09. Achini Ratnasiri beat S. Janithanjalee 21/03, 21/10.

(www.dailymirror.lk)

Badminton players free to play

Sri Lanka’s leading shuttlers Niluka Karunaratne and Chandrika de Silva are now eligible to play again.

The Sri Lanka Badminton Association (SLBA) announced that its executive committee unanimously decided to lift the ban on these two players that was imposed last year. They were found guilty of misconduct during a provincial tournament held in Anuradhapura.

However, the two players have to submit a declaration in writing to the SLBA admitting their misdeeds with an assurance that no such violations of misconduct will be repeated in the future. (TBR)

(www.dailymirror.lk)