Top seeds Shenuk and Rashmi claim EPBA Open Badminton crowns
View(s):Shenuk had his second successful campaign completed, both with unbeaten records, as he beat Thilina by 21/12 and 21/18 to annex his second domestic title this season, in two successive outings, while Rashmi had a starve off a vengeful battle from Panchali to earn one of her two crowns at the EPBA Open. Rashmi easily snatched the first set 21-14, but Panchali bounced back to equalize the game by winning the second set 21/18 pushing the excitement to the decisive setter. Eventually, after a close fight, Rashmi claimed the win by 21/18, after winning the Open Women’s Doubles partnering with Varangana Jayawardana of Lumbini College earlier on.
All winners with officials - Pix courtesy SLB
Rashmi and Varangana put a complete stall to the successful run of international medal winning pair Isuri Attanayake and Sithumi de Silva of Yukthi BA in the Open Women’s Doubles by claiming a straight win, after pummeling their opponents 21/13 and 21/16. Oshamika Karunarathna of Royal College and Thulith Palliyaguru of D.S. Senanayake College paired up to beat Sanuda Ariyasinghe and Thisath Rupathunga of Lyceum International School, Wattala in straight sets to claim the Open Men’s Doubles title with set scores of 21/16 and 21/19.
EPBA Open Badminton champions -- Shenuk Samararatne and Rashmi Mudalige
Thulith then partnered with Panchali Adhikari to claim the Open Mixed Doubles title, his double crown, after claiming an absorbing final by 2-1, where the winners claimed the first and third sets by 21/17 and 21/17, after narrowly losing the second set 20/22 to finalists Thilina Rajakaruna and Nethmi Ratnayake of Lyceum International School, Nugegoda.
Thidasa Irushika of St. Benedict’s College overcame Reshan Dimbukkuwalage of Prince of Wales College 2-1 to clinch the Boy’s Under-19 Singles title while Ranumi Manage of Musaeus College had a comfortable run to beat schoolmate Thiseja Herath in straight sets to clinch the Girl’s Singles title. Sanuda Ariyasinghe and Thisath Rupathunga of Lyceum, Wattala had very little trouble in beating Haneesha Kulathunga of St. John’s College, Nugegoda and Dhanushkha Sandaruwan of Yukthi BA by straight sets to clinch the Boys’ Doubles title. Ranumi claimed her double crown of this category after partnering with Dilni Ambalangodage of Anula Vidyala, Nugegoda to topple Methuli Nawaratne and Minusha Bandara of Girls’ High School, Kandy in straight sets to claim the Girls’ Doubles title.
Keneth Aruggoda of Lyceum, Wattala earned a double crown in the Under-17 category winning the Boy’s Singles and Doubles titles without much fuss. He overcame Wedhaka Gomes of Ananda College in straight set to clinch the Boy’s Singles title, after claiming the Doubles title partnering with Dinew Wimalarathna of St. Peter’s College to beat Anuga Perera and Buddhi Shenal of St. Sebastian’s College, Moratuwa in straight sets. Dulanya Karunarathna of Musaeus College experienced a tough battle from Sithuli Ranasinghe of Ranthushka Karunathilake BA before winning the Girl’s Singles title by 2-1, while Isuri Attanayake and Sithumi de Silva beat Thenuki de Silva of Siridhamma College and Ralindi Umagiliya of Sujatha Vidyalaya, Matara in straight sets to clinch the Girls’ Doubles title.
Thamindu Fernando of St. Joseph’s College and Nithini Sasandhi of Sri Sumangala Girls’ School, Panadura claimed double crowns in the Under-15 category, winning both the Singles and Doubles titles. Thamindu defeated Senuda Rajapaksa of Vidura College in straight sets to win the Boy’s Singles title, after winning the Doubles title partnering with Senuda Rajapaksa to beat Harindu Damsara and Sanuth Palangasinghe of St. Aloysius College, Galle in straight sets. Nithini Sasandhi beat schoolmate Manuli Methara in straight sets to win the Girl’s Singles title after claiming the Girls’ Doubles title partnering with the losing Singles finalist to beat Sayuni Kulasuriya of Maliyadeva Girls’ School, Kurunegala and Limandi Bandara of St. Anthony’s Girls’ School, Katugastota 2-1.
The EPBA All-Island Open Badminton Championships, attracted over 480 shuttlers who competed during five days at the Sri Lanka Badminton (SLB) National Ranking Level 1 competition. Organised and conducted by the Eastern Province Badminton Association (EPBA) from January 23rd to 27th, the tournament was sponsored by Mobil, Li Ning, McFoil, 3M, GAC and FIMA.
| Results of all finals | |
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