Shenuk and Nethmi crowned NPBA Open Badminton champions
View(s):Shenuk Samararatne and Nethmi Ratnayake emerged champions at the Northern Province Badminton Association (NPBA) All-Island Open Badminton Championships which concluded at the Vavuniya District Sports Complex in Omanthai on Tuesday. Shenuk of Rising Star Badminton Academy, bagged the Open Men’s Singles title with ease, defeating Thilina Rajakaruna of St. Sebastian’s College, Moratuwa in straight sets. While in a contrasting battle Nethmi of Lyceum International School, Nugegoda, overcame Sithuli Ranasinghe, who represented Ranthushka Karunathilaka BA, also in straight sets, to clinch the Open Women’s Singles title.
Favourites Buwaneka Gunathilake and Jason Homer of Rising Star BA, pocketed the Open Men’s Doubles title, despite receiving an early threat from losing finalists Oshamika Karunaratne and Thulith Palliyaguru by 2-1. The dominant pair of Isuri Attanayake and Sithumi de Silva, representing Yukthi BA, recorded a straight win against Nilasi Balasuriya and Jananuwani de Alwis to bag the Open Women’s Doubles title, after clinching the Girls’ Under-17 Doubles championship beating Dulanya Karunaratne of Musaeus College, and Vethmi Mirando of Sirimavo Bandaranaike Vidyalaya, in straight sets. Thulith Palliyaguru and Panchali Adhikari of Visakha Vidyalaya teamed up to beat Madhuka Dulanjana and Anurangi Masakorala of SLIIT in the Open Mixed Doubles final, which had an exciting battle.
All winners with officials
Maneth Wijegunawardena of Ranthushka Karunathilaka BA bounced back to beat Pamith Attanayake of Lyceum International School, Wattala 2-1 and claim the Boy’s Under-19 Singles title, while Dilni Ambalangodage of Anula Vidyalaya, Nugegoda had very trouble to defeat Achini Gamage of Yukthi BA in straight sets and emerge the Girl’s Under-19 Singles champion. Sanuda Ariyasinghe and Thisath Rupathunga of Rising Star BA defeated Dinidu Samarasinghe and Dinidu Sithusara of Lyceum, Wattala in straight sets to emerge Boy’s Under-19 Doubles champs.
Samiru Ranasinghe of Trinity College faced stiff challenge from Pamudu Randiligama of St. Joseph’s College before recording a 2-1 win to become the Boy’s Under-17 Singles winner, as Sithuli Ranasinghe of Ranthushka Karunathilaka BA experienced a similar challenge from Nethmi Ratnayake of Lyceum, Nugegoda, before recording a 2-1 win to become Girl’s Under-17 Singles champion. Keneth Aruggoda of Lyceum, Wattala and Dinew Wimalaratne of Ranthushka Karunathilaka BA teamed up to hand Thinura Jayasinghe and Raniru Midipollawatte of Ananda College, a straight defeat and become Boys’ Under-17 Doubles champions, while Isuri Attanayake and Sithumi de Silva warmed up for the Open Women’s Doubles final, defeating Dulanya Karunaratne and Vethmi Mirando in straight sets to become Girls’ Under-17 Doubles champs.
Shenuk Samararatne
Thamindu Fernando of St. Joseph’s College claimed a double crown in the Under-15 category, winning the Boy’s Singles and Doubles title. He comfortably defeated Yasiru Jayawardena of Royal College in straight sets in the Singles final, and teamed up with Senuda Rajapaksa of Rising Star BA to beat Dinendra Rodrigo of St. Benedict’s College and Chenitha Vihas of Rahula College, Matara in the Boy’s Doubles final in straight sets to annex the double crown. Saheli Kaluthararachchi of St. Thomas’ Catholic International School, Seeduwa, recorded identical set wins to overcome Tharuki Kulatunga of Musaeus College in straight sets to emerge the Girl’s Under-15 Singles champion while the pair of Sayuni Kulasuriya of Maliyadeva Girls’ School, Kurunegala and Limandi Bandara of St. Anthony’s Girls’ School, Katugastota overcame a tough opponent in Miyesi Nethara of Sri Sumangala Girls’ School, Panadura and Nisheli Shenaya of Lyceum, Panadura before recording a straight win for the Girls’ Under-15 Doubles title.
Dario Dalpathadu of Ashan Perera BA, Wennappuwa earned a double crown in the Under-11 category, as he beat team-mate Shon Silva 2-1 to claim the Boy’s Singles title, and then paired up with Shon to overcome Chenuka Chamod and Hasadu Sanula of Dharmaraja College 2-1 in the Boy’s Doubles final. Yenumi Sethinka of Sajith BA, Pannipitiya had very little trouble in defeating Hirudini Wijeratne of Mahamaya Girls’ School, Kandy by straight sets to become the Girl’s Under-11 Singles champion. Janandi Amaya of Aspire BA, Pannipitiya and Siheli Jayasundara of St. Paul’s Girls’ School, Milagiriya received a walkover from Esandi Ratnayake of Girls’ High School, Kandy and Hirudini Wijeratne of Mahamaya GS, Kandy in the Girls’ Under-11 Doubles final.
Nethmi Ratnayake
The championship featured a wide range of events from Under-11 to Under-19 in the Junior category, Over-30 to Over-70 in the Senior category, and the Open events with over 550 shuttlers taking part at the NPBA All-Island Open Badminton Championships held from January 18 to 21 at the Vavuniya District Sports Complex in Omanthai. Organised by the Northern Province Badminton Association (NPBA), the four-day competition, sanctioned by Sri Lanka Badminton as a National Level 1 Ranking tournament, was sponsored by Mobil, Li Ning, McFoil, 3M and GAC.
| Results of all finals | |
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