Badminton: Aashinsa, Rashmi, Ranithma, Isuri and Sithumi enter quarters in Bahrain

Sri Lankans continued to impress, while two of the potential Singles players fell out of contention on the third day of the ongoing Bahrain International Series 2024, which is currently underway in Manama, Bahrain.

Men’s Singles player Aashinsa Herath, and Women’s Doubles pair Isuri Attanayake and Sithumi de Silva, all won their respective Round of 16 matches to reach the quarter-final stage.

In addition Women’s Singles players Rashmi Mudalige and Ranithma Liyanage will clash each other in the quarter-final game, while Men’s Singles players Thilina Rajakaruna and Reshan Dimbukkuwalage bowed out of the competition following losses in their Round of 16 games.

Men’s Singles player Aashinsa Herath faced an initial challenge from Indian Charan Naik, but the Sri Lankan youngster regained his momentum and maintained the composure to record an inspiring 2-1 win.

Naik sealed the first set 21/16, but Herath bounced back to masterly claim the two following sets by 21/19 and 21/14 to earn a slot in the quarter-final, where he will meet Iran’s Ali Hayati.

Sri Lankan Women’s Doubles pair Isuri Attanayake and Sithumi de Silva had very little trouble in beating Noor Fardeen Hasan and Zainab Ali Sowaid of Bahrain in straight sets in their Round of 16 clash.

The Sri Lankan pair won the sets comfortably by 21/1 and 21/4, to set up a quarter-final clash against Bahrain pair Lizbeth Elsa Binu and Neha Susan Biju.

However the two other Sri Lankan Men’s Singles shuttlers, Thilina Rajakaruna and Reshan Dimbukkuwalage crashed out of the contention, after losing their Round of 16 matches.

Rajakaruna, who was Sri Lanka’s favourite among Men’s Singles players, lost to top seed Vishal Vasudevan of India in straight sets, but after a tough fight.

He nearly pinned the Indian favourite, but Vasudevan made use of his experience to hand Rajakaruna a close loss, with the sets finishing on 21/17 and 23/21 in favour of the winner.

Dimbukkuwalage, meanwhile lost in straight sets to Amirhossein Hasani of Iran, who recorded set wins of 21/14 and 21/19).

In the Men’s Doubles Round of 16 Dinura Rashmika Priyankara and Siyath Senaratne had to face a tough challenge from Bahrain pair Adnan Ebrahim and Muhammad Firmansyah before going down by straight sets.

The Sri Lankan pair came close to winning both the sets, but made were pinched by the Bahrain pair by 23/21 and 24/22.

Team mates Rashmi Mudalige and Ranithma Liyanage will become opponents at an international event for the first time when they take on each other in the Women’s Singles quarter-final.

This will guarantee Sri Lanka a slot in the Women’s Singles semi-final, however at the expense of another guaranteed shuttler who has the potential to reach the final.

The tournament, organised by Badminton Asia, continues until Sunday at the India Club Bahrain in Manama.

Results:

• Men’s Singles Round of 16: Aashinsa Herath beat Charan Naik (Ind) 2-1 (16/21, 21/19, 21/14), Amirhossein Hasani (Iran) beat Reshan Dimbukkuwalage 2-0 (21/14, 21/19), Vishal Vasudevan (Ind) beat Thilina Rajakaruna 2-0 (21/17, 23/21)  
• Women’s Doubles Round of 16: Isuri Attanayake/Sithumi de Silva beat Noor Fardeen Hasan/Zainab Ali Sowaid (Bah) 2-0 (21/1, 21/4)
• Men’s Doubles Round of 16: Adnan Ebrahim/Muhammad Firmansyah (Bah) beat Dinura Rashmika Priyankara/Siyath Senaratne 2-0 (23/21, 24/22)