Niluka prevails over younger sibling
The 63rd National Badminton Nationals came to a close at the Anuradhapura Urban Council Courts last weekend with Olympic quarter-finalist Niluka Karunaratne winning the Men’s National Singles crown. Tilini Hendahewa emerged champion in the Women’s segment defeating Kavindi Sirimannage in the finals.
When Niluka overcame his younger brother Dinuka 2-0 in the Men’s Singles finals he became the only player in the history of Sri Lanka badminton histor
y to win the national crown in 14 successive occasions. The only player who came close to Niluka was Dinuka Karunaratne on several nationals, but the younger Karunaratne failed to match his elder brother almost on every occasion. Young Tilini Hendahewa too showing glimpse of dominating women’s badminton as this is the 3rd occasion she won the Women’s national crown.
Niluka won the double crown partnering Dinuka in the Men’s Doubles defeating Sachin Dias-Buwaneka Gunatilleke combination 2-0 in the finals.
Championship winners:
- Open Men’s Singles: Winner – Niluka Karunaratne; Runner-up – Dinuka Karunaratne
- Open Women’s Singles: Winner -Tilini Hendahewa; Runner-up – Kavindi Sirimannage
- Open Men’s Doubles: Winners-Niluka Karunaratne/Dinuka Karunaratne; Buwaneka Gunatilleke/Sachin Dias
- Open Women’s Doubles: Winners – Achini Ratnasiri/Upuli Samanmthika; Runners –up – Chandrika De Silva/Tilini Hendahewa
- Open Mixed Doubles: Winners – Buwaneka Gunatilleke/Kavindi Sirimannage; Runners-up – Niluka Karunaratne/Nadeesha Gayanthi
- Under 19 Boys Singles: Winner – Resintha Ridma; Runner-up – Maduka Dulanjana
- Under 19 Boys Doubles: Winners – Nadith Anushka/Resintha Ridma; Runners-up – Umindu Liyanage/Pasindu Palliyaguru
- Under 19 Girls Singles: Winner – Kavindika De Silva; Runner-up – Inuri Kuruppu
- n Under 19 Girls Doubles: Winners – Kavindika De Silva/Nilmithra Hettiarachchi; Runners-up – Udana De Alwis/Dakshina Rajaratne
- Under 17 Boys Singles: Winner – Tharin Punchihewa; Runner-up – Kasun Amarasena
- Under 17 Boys Doubles: Winners – Tharindu Ambegoda/Tharin Punchihewa; Runners-up – Kasun Amarasena/Venu Pathirana
- Under 17 Girls Singles: Winner – Hashini Ambalangodage; Runner-up – Hasara Wijeyaratne
- Under 17 Girls Doubles: Winners – Bethmee Galagamage/Thanushi Ratnayake; Runners-up – Hasini Ambalangodage/Hasara Wijayaratne
- Under 15 Boys Singles: Winner – Chamath Dias; Runner-up – Janishka Perera
- Under 15 Boys Doubles: Winners – Bhanuka Abeysinghe/Janishka Perera; Runners-up – Chamath Dias/Chirath Illeperumachchi
- Under 15 Girls Singles: Winner – Dilmi Dias; Runner-up – Anurangi Masakorala
- Under 15 Girls Doubles: Winners – Dilmi Dias/Anuragi Masakorala; Runners-up – Irushi Perera/Bimanka Gunatilleke
- Under 13 Boys Singles: Winner – Duminda Abeywickrema; Runner-up – Chaniru Manthika
- Under 11 Boys Singles: Winner – Manthuka Rupatunga; Runner-up – Sanjana Devasurendra
- Under 11 Girls Singles: Winner – Dewmi Mithara; Runner-up – Senuji Umagiliyage
In the newly introduced Provincial, Schools and Clubs championships Southern Province, Dharmasoka College, Ambalangoda and McLarnes Sports Club won the segments respectively.