Young Sri Lankan shuttlers impress at Bahrain Series
Ranithma Liyanage, competing in the Women’s Singles semi-finals, claimed Sri Lanka’s sole silver medal, while Isuri Attanayake and Sithumi de Silva earned their bronze medal in the Women’s Doubles, both after stellar performances up until the final stages of the six-day international competition, organised by Badminton Asia.
Ranithma, a 17-year-old aspiring shuttler from Christ Church College, Baddegama, faced stiff competition from Indian Prakriti Bharath, who sealed the Women’s Singles gold medal in straight sets. Ranithma faced off her opponent with greatest courage after a successful run, but her unblemished record came to an end after the Indian won both sets by 21/13 and 21/17 as the Sri Lankan top seed settled in for the silver medal in the Women’s Singles at the prestigious Bahrain International Series 2024.
Rashmi Mudalige
Ranithma beat Mikaela Joy de Guzman of the Philippines by 2-1 to reach the final after an absorbing the semi-final clash that went down the wire. After overcoming Mikaela in the first set easily by 21/11, Ranithma disastrously conceded the second set by 8/21 to pave away a decisive third setter. Ranithma then made sure that her hopes of reaching the final alive by keeping her opponent at bay before securing the third set 21/18 after a close tussle.
Two days prior to the final, Ranithma secured her semi-final slot in the Women’s Singles, but after seeing off her fellow compatriot Rashmi Mudalige of Gateway College, in the all-Sri Lanka quarter-final clash by straight sets at the India Club Bahrain.
Isuri and Sithumi were made to fight in the Women’s Doubles semi-final by Indian pair Annanya Pravin and Prerana Sher, who beat the Sri Lankan pair to reach the final with a straight win. Annanya and Prerana played with a well-executed plan to make the young pair of Isuri and Sithumi fight for their points before sealing both sets by 21/14 and 21/12.
Isuri of Girls’ High School, Kandy and Sithumi, an alumni of Lyceum International School, Panadura, who had a fine tournament up until the semi-final stage, overcame stiff competition from the Bahrain duo Lizbeth Elsa Binu and Neha Susan Biju in the Women’s Doubles quarter-final, before securing a win by straight sets.
Meanwhile, Ali Hayati of Iran put a complete stop to the progress of Sri Lankan Men’s Singles player Aashinsa Herath, after recording a 2-1 win in an absorbing quarter-final clash on November 15. Hayati made early progress by securing the first set 21/14, but Herath of Royal College, bounced back to equalise with a punching 21/17 win in the second set. After an early setback, Hayati bounced back to secure the third and final set by 21/13 and secure a semi-final slot.
Earlier Men’s Singles players Thilina Rajakaruna, a former student of Kegalu Vidyalaya, and Reshan Dimbukkuwalage of Lyceum International School, Panadura, bowed out of the competition following losses in their Round of 16 games in the Men’s Singles. Men’s Doubles pair Dinura Rashmika Priyankara and Siyath Senaratne too had to end their unbeaten run after falling short by a whisker following a tough Round of 16 game against Bahrain pair Adnan Ebrahim and Muhammad Firmansyah, who were pinched by 23/21 and 24/22.