Hotel Topaz ends Sri Lankan Airlines Twelve-year reign in shuttling
Hotel Topaz, Kandy staging a comeback after a two year lapse, lifted the Men’s Open and the Women’s titles at the 20th Travel Trade Sports Club Badminton Team Championships 2015, sponsored by Serendib Leisure Hotels for the fifth time, concluded at St. Thomas’ College, Mt. Lavinia Indoor Stadium over the weekend.
Overall winners - Hotel Topaz - Pix by Anuradha Bandara
Hotel Topaz ended the 12 year reign of Sri Lankan Airlines, when they beat them in the top half Semi-Finals, and then went on to beat debutants, Citrus Waskaduwa in the Final of the Men’s Open.
Defending Champions, Sri Lankan Airlines experienced a similar fate in the Women’s tournament when they lost the top half semi-final to Hotel Topaz who after clearing that hurdle went on to win the title, beating Serendib Leisure in the final.
In a repeat final of last year, Sri Lankan Airlines retained the Men’s Over 40 title, beating The Kingsbury Hotel.
It was the experience of Rohan de Silva (62 years), Anura Basnayake (56 years) and A.D.W. Yatawara (39 years) and the youth of Udara Nayanajith (25 years) that took Hotel Topaz (a McLarens Group Hotel) to the top; while the 20 year old rising star, Achini Ratnasiri, single handedly helped the hoteliers to win the Women’s Tournament.
Awards were presented by-Director Sales & Marketing, Serendib Leisure Hotels and Vice President TTSC, Suranjith de Fonseka, President/TTSC, Denesh Silva, Senior Vice President/TTSC, Prabath Harshakumar and Gen. Secretary/TTSC, Palitha Mendis. – LR
14 teams played in the Men’s Open Team Championship.
Quarter-finals: SriLankan Airlines beat Walkers/Whittalls 3/1; Hotel Topaz beat Kingsbury 3/0; Jetwing Blue beat Green Holidays 3/2; Citrus Waskaduwa beat Serendib Leisure (2014 runners-up) 3/1.
Semi-finals: Hotel Topaz beat SriLankan Airlines 3/1; Citrus Waskaduwa beat Jetwing Blue 3/1.
Final: Hotel Topaz beat Citrus Waskaduwa 3/0; Udara Nayanajith (Topaz) beat Prashan de Silva (Citrus) 21/10, 21/09; Rohan de Silva (Topaz) beat Nuwan Silva (Citrus) 19/21, 21/14, 21/17; A.D.W. Yatawara (Topaz) beat Rajith Thilaka (Citrus) 21/17, 21/10.
Most Outstanding Player: Udara Nayanajith/Hotel Topaz.
Six teams took part in the Women’s segment.
Semi-finals: Hotel Topaz beat SriLankan Airlines 2/1; Serendib Leisure beat Walkers/Whittalls ‘A’
Final: Hotel Topaz beat Serendib Leisure 2/1; Achini Ratnasiri (Topaz) beat Mithilani Mendis (Serendib) 21/03, 21/03; Chithra Fernando (Serendib) beat Rasika Ratnaya (Topaz) 21/12, 21/13; Achini Ratnasiri and Rasika Ratnayake (Topaz) beat Chithra Fernando and Mithilani Mendis (Serendib) 21/01, 21/06.
Most Outstanding Player: Achini Ratnasiri/Hotel Topaz.
Six teams played in the Mens Over-40 Team Championship.
Semi-finals: SriLankan Airlines beat Serendib Leisure 2/0; Kingsbury Hotel beat Hotel Topaz 2/0.
Final: SriLankan Airlines beat Kingsbury Hotel 2/0; Dayantha Fernando (SlA) beat Basil Ranmuka (Kingbury) 21/16, 21/14; Sajith Wijetunga (SlA) beat Nimal Alahakoon (Kingabury) 21/12, 21/06
Most Outstanding Player: Dayantha Fernando/SriLankan Airlines