Sri
Lanka International Satellite Badminton Championships
FLAG FLUTTERS FOR LANKAN SHUTTLERS
By M. Shamil Amit
The Sri Lankans dominated the third day’s play of the Satellite
International Badminton Championship in progress now at the Sugathadasa
Indoor Stadium.The Lankans were successful in entering the two finals
with the star among the Lankan players Thushara Edirisinghe being
involved in both. The semi finals of all the events were worked
off yesterday which began from 10.00 a.m.
Edirisinghe
booked berths to the final in the men’s double which was played
in the morning and then in the evening he was successful in advancing
to the final of the mixed doubles. Edirisinghe partnered by Duminda
Jayakody with both being the bottom seed had things their own way
against the Malaysian pair of Cheah Like Hou and Chin Chun Jue overcoming
the duo 2-1.
The
Lankans took the first set 15-6 but the Malaysians fought back to
win the second 15-12 but the Lankans came back to rattle their opponents
by taking a commanding lead before winning 15-9. In the evening
Edirisinghe partnered by Chandrika de Silva completely dominated
play in the mixed doubles semi finals against Nepalese duo Balham
Thapa and Pooja Shrestha crushing them 2-0 with the identical scores
of 15-4.
Niluka
Karunaratne and Thilini Jayasinghe who both bowed of the men’s
and women’s singles category made amends by winning their
mixed doubles semi final encounter. Earlier they created an upset
by defeating Nepal’s Pashupathi Paneru and Sumina Shrestha
who were seeded number two, when they defeated Malaysia’s
Chin Chun Jue and Eater Ratn Dewi in straight sets. 15-8 and 15-13
to enter the final. It’s going to be a Sri Lankan final of
the mixed doubles.
The
day’s proceedings began with the women’s doubles with
Sri Lankans Rasangi Ranatunge , Nadeesha Gayanthi, Chandrika de
Silva and Thilini Jayasinghe locking horns with Monthila Meemek
and Soratja Chansrisukot of Thailand and Trupti Murugande and B.R.
Meenakshi of India, and the visitors overcame the challenge of the
locals to fight out in the final.
In
the other semi final of the men’s doubles Thailand’s
Nattapon and Siwath Khoosakumthum beat India’s George Jose
and Ajit Wijetilek to enter the final and will now meet the Sri
Lanka’s Edirisinghe and Jayakody. India had a win and a loss
in the men’s singles with number one seed Chetan Anand having
his own way against Thailand’s Peerasak Wiriyaphadungphong
2-0 while Malaysia’s Yew Thien Law brushed aside the challenge
of India’s Anand Pawer also by 2-0.
The
women’s singles final is going to be an all Thailand affair
with Monthila Meemak the top seed and the favorite to win the title
crushing her Indian opponent B.R. Meenakshi in straight sets 11-3
and 11-5 while two Thailand players Sujitra Ekmongkolpasair and
Soratja Chansrikot fought out in the other semi final which ended
in a win for the former 11-5 and 11-0.
Today
the championship will come to a close with the finals scheduled
to get underway from 9.00 a.m. It will commence with the women’s
singles followed by the mixed doubles, men’s singles, women’s
doubles and the men’s doubles. The awards ceremony is due
to be held at 12.45 p.m.
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