Team of 16 shuttlers for 2019 South Asian Games
Sri Lanka Badminton team for the 13th South Asian Games
A team of 16 shuttlers — eight men and eight women, will represent Sri Lanka at the forthcoming 2019 South Asian Games (SAG), to be held in Nepal from December 1-10. They will be led by National champion Dinuka Karunaratne (Men) and Thilini Hendahewa (Women).
The team will miss the services of Niluka Karunaratne, elder brother of national champion Dinuka, due to injury. Niluka is a player with vast experience in international arena. But Dinuka, who defeated his elder brother to win the national championship, will go all out to cover his brother absence.
The strong doubles combination of Buwaneka Goonethilake and Sachin Peiris are expected to repeat their performance at last year’s Commonwealth Games in Gold Coast, where they bagged the first medal in their event.
Sri Lanka Men’s No.2 seed Ranthushka Sasindu along with Lochana De Silva, Madu Dulanjana, Krishan Danushka and Hasitha Chanaka make up the 8-member Men’s squad.
Women’s captain Hendahewa is another experienced Shuttler expected to guide the young lasses, with the services of another powerhouse in Achni Ratnasiri.
Dilmi Dias, Kavindi Ishadika, Upuli Samamthika, Kavindika Binari, Hasara Wijerathne and Hasini Ambalangoda are other members in the Women’s team.
Sri Lanka Men’s skipper Dinuka Karunaratne when contacted by the Sunday Times said, “In this edition of SAG, our main target is to defeat India in the Team event to win Gold. Since 2006, we have finished 2nd. The moral of the team is very high as both Men and Women practice together, with every player determined to bring home a Gold.”
He further said that Sri Lanka is confidentof winning the individual events in Men’s and Women’s Singles, Doubles and the Mixed Doubles. On a regulation imposed by the host nation that only one player, in both categories, can compete in the individual events, Sri Lanka will be deprived of winning more medals.
“Though our team is a young outfit with two school leavers, everyone has international exposure and I am confident that Sri Lanka will come out with flying colours, with more medals than at the last edition of the SAG,” Karunaratne concluded.
Team Manager Tilak Jayasiri speaking to the Sunday Times said, “The Badminton tournament will be held about 400kms from the capital, where it is cold. He plans to arrange practices in Bandarawela, where the climate is similar to the city at the Himalayan foothills, from November 19-24.
He also said that the Indonesian coach is keen to infuse youngsters into the team and that was the reason a young team was selected. He concluded by saying he is sure that every member of the team will give their best to win many medals at the SAG.