Savinka and Ranithma clinch Summer Season titles
All winners with SLB President Rohan de Silva (Extreme L) and CPBA President Mahinda Dodampegamage (2nd R) and other special guests
Young sensations Savinka Weerasekara and Ranithma Liyanage clinched the Open Men’s and Women’s Single titles at the Summer Season All-Island Badminton Championship concluded at the Municipal Indoor Stadium in Nuwara Eliya last weekend.
Savinka Savinaka Weerasekara, a student of D.S. Senanayake College, overcame 16-year-old Aashinsa Herath of Royal College, who was the top seed, in a thrilling three-setter, which had set scores of 21-13, 17-21 and 21-13, to
win the Open Men’s title of the seven-day event.
On the other hand, the reigning national champion, 16-year-old student of Christ Church College Baddegama, Ranithma Liyanage, outclassed Hasara Wijerathne in another thrilling three-setter. The set scores were 21-12, 18-21 and 21-12, as Ranithma clinched the Open Women’s crown of this year’s edition of the popular tournament conducted by the Central Province Badminton Association in collaboration with Sri Lanka Badminton.
Savinka Weerasekara
The Women’s Doubles final was won by Buthmi Galagamage and Nadeesha Gayanthi, who combined to overpower Rashmi Mudalige and Thiyaana Widanarachchi by 21-19, 20-22, 21-17 in a yet another thrilling three-setter.
Lochana de Silva and Rashintha de Silva won the Men’s Doubles final, after defeating Oshamika Karunaratne and Thulith Palliyaguru by 21-17 and 22-20 in a close game. The Mixed Doubles final was won by Thulith Palliyaguru and Buthmi Galagamage, who overcame Chamath Dias and Nathasha Gunasekara comfortably by 21-14, 21-15.
President of Sri Lanka Badminton, Rohan de Silva, President of Central Province Badminton Association Mahinda Dodampagamage, Central Province Badminton Secretary Chamara Aluthge and Nuwara Eliya Mayor Chandana Lal Karunaratne were the special guests at the awards ceremony.