Staging Junior, Senior Badminton nationals a big triumph – Dandeniya
SLBA and the Schools Section will come together for the first time to conduct a major tournament
The 64th National Badminton Championships and the Junior National Badminton Championships will take place from October 22 to 29 at the Kurunegala Welagedera Stadium and Kurunegala Boyagane Army Stadium. The Sri Lanka Badminton Association and the Sri Lanka Schools Badminton Association are conducting this tournament. This is the first time that a senior and junior sports event is being conducted together by the schools and the national body. This is a good example for other sports bodies to follow, said Suraj Dandeniya, Sri Lanka Badminton Association. “Normally school players are not able to witness star players like Niluka and Dinuka Karunaratne in action.
This time they will have the opportunity to witness such players. This is a big boost for schoolchildren,” said Suraj Dandeniya. Continuing Suraj said that the Mercantile Badminton Championships will also take place on the same dates but that will not hinder the National Championships. “Officials of the Mercantile, Schools and the National body in the sport had discussions and agreed to stage the tournament. The Badminton Association has been staging contests in the outstations. Prior to this competitions had taken place in Nawalapitiya, Anuradhapura. This time the competition is being held in Kurunegala. Plans are also afoot to stage the competitions in other outstation areas.
Entries for the National Badminton Championships close on October 14 and the finals will take place on October 27, 28 and 29. The first round in the Junior Nationals has been completed in 17 regions where 5,100 players had participated. From this 1040 players have qualified from the age groups of under 11, under 13, under 15, under 17 and under 19 girls and boys singles. For the doubles competition except the under 11 group, all other age groups have qualified. Until the quarter-finals on Oct.22 and 23 will be staged at the Royal College, DS Senanayake College and SLBA courts at Reid Avenue. The final round will take place in Kurunegala. The champions in the men’s and women’s competitions will receive cash awards of Rs. 50,000 each.
Suraj Dandeniya, President of the Sri Lanka Badminton Association addressing the press conference. Others in the picture (from left to right): Wing Commander Amal Dias (Secretary SLBA). Oshadu Panditharatne (President SLSBA), Suraj Dandeniya, Ranjith Payagala (Tournament Secretary SLSBA) and Upali Tennekoon (Vice President SLBA) – Pic by Samil Rajapakse.