MAS Holdings ‘A’ make a clean sweep to reign supreme
MAS Holdings ‘A’ won the 7th Mercantile Badminton Association’s (MBA) Inter Firm Doubles Team Championship 2017, in style, concluded at the MBA Headquarters and Stadium last Sunday.
There were 55 teams from 37, with 423 men and 164 women Shuttlers in 87 ties and 435 matches. More than 50 National Shuttlers were seen in action making it a highly competitive tournament. The tournament was held from June 19-25.
Action at the Cup Finals. Pix by Priyantha Wickremarachchi
In the final, MAS Holdings ‘A’ pulled off a fine 3-1 victory over McLarens ‘A’, to win the challenge Trophy donated by Samson Group. The match of the tournament was the Women’s Doubles where the MAS Shuttlers defeated the more fancied McLarens women 2-1. Upuli Samanthika partnered by Kavindi Ishadika matched the strong McLarans combination of National players Tilini Hendahewa and Achini Ratnasiri in every dept of the game, for a hard fought victory by 21-6, 17-21, 21-18.
The Mixed Doubles event too was a keenly contested affair where the MAS pair of Buwaneka Gunatilleke and Kavindi Ishadika beat Shachin Dias and Tilini Hendahewa 2-0 (21-15, 21-8) in a fast, attacking match.
On their way to win the Grand Slam, MAS scored victories in the Men’s Doubles, Women’s Doubles and Mix Doubles events. McLaren’s only win was in the Veterans event. Hatton National Bank finished 3rd.
McLarens ‘B’ scored an easy 3-0 win over Nations Trust Bank to win the Cup final Challenge Trophy donated by Sumith Guruge. John Keells Holdings won 3rd place.
In the Plate finals, Dialog ‘A’ trounced Brandix ‘A’ 3-1 to win the Challenge Trophy donated by E. Wis. Sampath Bank finished 3rd, defeating MAS Holdings ‘C’.
Janashakthi Insurance scored a close 3-2 win over IFS RD International Pvt. Ltd. in the Bowl finals ford the Challenge Trophy donated by McLarens Shipping Ltd. HSBC ‘A’ beat Brandix ‘B’ 3-0 for 3rd place.
Citizens Development Business Finance beat Abans 3-2 to win the Novices final, for the MBA Challenge Trophy. Union Bank came 3rd.
- LR
