72nd Nationals from December 1
Nearly 1300 shuttlers will vie for honours at the 72nd National Badminton Championship, set to be worked off between December 1 and 8 at three key venues in Colombo. Organised and conducted by Sri Lanka Badminton (SLB), the country’s core domestic badminton event will take place at the Mercantile Badminton Association (MBA) , the Otter Aquatic Club and at the SLB Indoor Courts at Maitland Place, where shuttlers in contention will compete under different categories.
The SLB officials stated that they are overwhelmed with the extraordinary enthusiasm among local shuttlers as the number of entries this year reached 1254, surpassing last year’s total number of 1140, by the time entries were closed on November 19. The record number of entries will prompt the SLB officials to assign nearly 60 officials for the eight-day competition, in which Buwaneka Goonethilleke and Ranithma Liyanage will defend their titles.
The championships will feature a wide range of events from Under-11 to Under-19 in the Junior category and Over-30 to Over-70 in the Senior category, as well as the Combined age category of 100+, 110+ and 120+. However, the Open events comprising Men’s and Women’s Singles, Doubles and Mixed Doubles, will take centre stage at this grand annual event.
The opening ceremony will take place on December 1, and will be followed by the preliminary rounds, leading up to the climax on December 6 with the Round of 16 and quarter-finals.
The excitement will continue on December 7, with the highly anticipated semi-finals and additional quarter-final and final matches. The grand finale is set for December 8, where all the selected finals will be held.
A grand prize money of Rs.2 million for all events based on the number of entries will be on offer, in addition to trophies, medals and certificates guaranteed for winners, runners-up and semi-finalists of each event of the tournament. Junior winners will receive appropriate gifts instead of prize money. The country’s elite domestic badminton event, conducted in accordance to BWF regulations, is sponsored by Li Ning, McFoil, 3M, GAC and Mobil.