Ranithma reaches Bahrain Series II Women’s Singles quarters

Sri Lanka’s top seed women’s shuttler Ranithma Liyanage, who bagged the silver medal in the Women’s Singles at the Bahrain International Series 2024 last weekend, continued her good form in the second installment of the Series by reaching the quarter-finals at the BKS Club in Manama, Bahrain.

Ranithma, who won four out of her five games in the first instalment of the Bahrain International Series that ended last Sunday at the India Club Bahrain in Manama, continued to impress by entering the second instalment as the second seeded competitor in Women’s Singles.

Making a clear statement, Ranithma overcame India’s Yashvi Bhat by 2-1 after conceding the first set 15/21. Ranithma was unstoppable in the following sets, as she regained her composure to ensure she advances further after recording wins of 21/14 and 21/16 to reach the quarter-final stage.

Her compatriot Rashmi Mudalige, however, had to bow out of the competition early after losing her clash against Stefani Stoeva of Bulgaria after a gripping battle.

Rashmi came close to winning the first set, but Stefani took the clash down to the wire before sealing the win by 26/24, and continued her dominance to record a straight win against the Sri Lankan after sealing the second set by 21/11.

Earlier Rashmi, who had to pass through the qualification stage towards the Round of 16, thrashed Zainab Ali Sowaid of Bahrain and Nidhi Desai of the UAE without much fuss.

She easily beat the Bahrain opponent in straight sets, 21/2 and 21/3, and delivered a similar display against the Emirati, who was comprehensively beaten 21/5 and 21/11 by Rashmi to reach the knockout stage.

Men’s Singles players Aashinsa Herath and Reshan Dumbukkuwalage failed to go beyond the Round of 32 after being shown out of the competition early by their respective opponents.

Aashinsa, who was seeded seventh following his fine form in the first instalment of the Bahrain Series, played gallantly but lost to Bahrain’s Muhammad Firmansyah 2-1.

Aashinsa won the first set by 21/14, but Firmansyah bounced back to win the following sets 21/11 and 21/12.

Reshan, on the other hand, was outsmarted by Bharath Latheesh of the UAE in straight sets after the Emirati claimed the sets by 21/9 and 21/13.

Meanwhile Isuri Attanayake and Sithumi de Silva, who claimed the Women’s Doubles bronze medal in the first instalment, will take on Mariam Alkhabbaz and Helen Ameeni of Bahrain in a Round of 16 encounter, while Dinura Rashmika and Siyath Senaratne will meet Nasser Alnakkas and Sayed Ebrahim of Bahrain in the Men’s Doubles Round of 16 match.