Junior Shuttlers to compete at World Championship in Spain
View(s):By Lakshman Ranasinghe
A 16-member Junior Badminton team of 10 Boys and 6 Girls, will take part in the World Junior Badminton Championship to be held in Spain from November 2 to 13. The Lankan squad will leave on October 31, soon after the Junior Nationals from October 22 to 29 in Kurunegala, where the entire squad will be seen in action. A total of 54 countries will be participating in this Mixed Team Championship for the Suhandinata Cup, where Sri Lanka is in Group F2, along with Korea, Sweden and Algeria. Secretary- Sri Lanka Badminton Association, Wing Cmdr. Amal Dias told the Sunday Times, he is confident the Sri Lanka team has a good chance to play in the final rounds, as the only tough opponent in our group is Korea. Considering the standard of the other two countries, he went on to say that our Shuttlers should occupy 2nd spot in their Group.
The 2 Coaches, Chameera Kumarapperuma (Boys) and Subash Janaka (Girlls) too, are also confident that Sri Lanka will find a slot in the final round. The team is in good touch as they have been hard at practise in preparation for the Junior Nationals. They also pointed out that our Shuttlers are of a high standard, with 2 former Under 13 Junior National Champs are going great guns at the moment in Denmark and Australia, while one represented Australia at the last Olympic Games, Oshara Panditharatne will be the team Manager, while Renuka Wimalasuriya will be the Lady Chaperon.
Shamika Hasaranga, Kasun Amarasena, Pasindu Palliyaguruge, Theveyn Rahubadda, Thilina Gonapinuwala, Maduka Dulanjana, Ranthushka Sasindu, Umidu Liyanage, Sewmina Gunatilleke M.R.M. Shaadhir
Kavishka Gunaratne, Inuri Kuruppu, Lasangana Hettiarachchi, Nayanatara Theshani, Buthmi Galagamage and Hasara Wijerathna.