Badminton: Viren, Isuri, Sithumi reach semis at Bangladesh Challenge

Sri Lanka is guaranteed of two medals at the Yonex-Sunrise Bangladesh International Challenge 2024 after Men’s Singles player Viren Nettasinghe and Women’s Doubles pair Isuri Attanayake and Sithumi de Silva reached the semi-finals at the Bangabandhu National Stadium Complex in Paltan, Dhaka.

Viren, who defeated Darrel Chew of Malaysia in straight set in the Men’s Singles quarter-final, is set to face top seed Duc Phat Le of Vietnam in the semi-finals.

The Sri Lankan top seed in Men’s Singles was initially troubled by Chew in the quarter-final, but Viren used his vast experience from the recent international outings to outsmart the Malaysian by 21/18 and 21/13 to secure his berth in the semi-final.

Earlier in the Round of 16, the Sri Lankan Olympian eased past Malaysian Wern Soon Chow in straight sets, with set wins of 21/8 and 21/15, after overcoming Indian Pranauv Ram Nagalingam in the Round of 32 in straight sets, by 21/14 and 21/15.

Isuri Attanayake and Sithumi de Silva thrashed Jesmin Akter and Sumi Akther of Bangladesh in straight sets (21/6, 21/7), to set up their semi-final clash against Kodchaporn Chaichana and Pannawee Polyiam of Thailand in the Women’s Doubles.

This was after the Sri Lankan pair received a bye in the Round of 16.

However, Sri Lanka’s other Women’s Doubles pair, Varangama Jayawardana and Rashmi Mudalige, failed to progress beyond after they were beaten in straight sets by the top seed Ukraine pair Polina Buhrova and Yevheniia Kantemyr, by 21/16 and 21/13.

A total of 12 shuttlers turned out at the Yonex-Sunrise Bangladesh International Challenge 2024 representing Sri Lanka, out of them were seven boys and five girls, who competed under Men’s and Women’s Singles, Doubles and Mixed Doubles.

A total of 228 shuttlers from 24 countries are in contention at the five-day tournament conducted by the Bangladesh Badminton Federation and sanctioned by the Badminton World Federation.