Sri Lanka to host LiNing International Badminton Series from Tuesday
Sri Lanka Badminton is set to host its second international tournament of the month, the LiNing Sri Lanka International Series, from February 13 to 18 at the Dadella Sports Complex in Galle. Endorsed by the Badminton World Federation (BWF), the event is anticipated to be a highlight of badminton talent and competition, featuring 303 athletes from 16 nations.
The tournament will display an impressive roster of participants, including 106 competitors from India and 87 from Sri Lanka, with notable representations from Malaysia (31), Indonesia (22), and Thailand (25), all vying for top honours.
Leading the seedings is Sri Lanka’s premier shuttler, Viren Nettasinghe, ranked 68th in the world. Other prominent seeded competitors include Indonesia’s Tommy Sugiarto, ranked 91st globally, USA’s Mark Shelley Alcala at 99th, Norway’s Markus Barath at 97th, and Indian players Ravi Ravi and Rithvik Sanjeevi Satish Kimar, ranked 102nd and 124th respectively. Sri Lanka’s Buwaneka Goonethilleka, ranked 180th, is seeded 12th. This tournament, which follows the successful LiNing Sri Lanka Challenge currently underway at the same venue, offers a total prize fund of $5,000 for the winners. It boasts sponsorship from renowned brands such as LiNing, Mobil, GAC, 3M, and McFoil, underscoring the event’s prestige and the global interest in badminton as a competitive sport.