Badminton: Hasaranga and Gayathri win 41st National Sports Festival titles

Imesh Hasaranga and Nadeesha Gayathri emerged the best players in the Men’s and Women’s categories respectively in the Badminton Championship of the 41st National Sports Festival played at the Sri Lanka Badminton Association courts in Colombo. 

Imesh Hasaranga of Western Province and Nadeesha Gayathri of Southern Province were adjudged the Best Players of the badminton singles at the 41st National Sports Festival concluded at the Badminton Association Indoor Stadium yesterday.

Hasaranga representing Western Province beat N.K John of Central Province 2-0, 21/16 and 21/13. 

Nadeesha of Southern Province beat Upuli Weerasinghe of Western Province 2-0 -- 23/21, 21/13 in a rather exciting Women’s Singles final. 

In the Men’s Singles semi-finals John beat Dharshana Gunasinghe of Sabaragamuwa 21/12, 22/20 while Hasaranga had an easy passage through Ishanka Malinda of North Central Province by 21/10 and 21/9. 

Gayanthi comfortably beat Nivarthi Wijewardena of Sabaragamuwa 21/10, 21/3 while Weerasinghe beat Malithi Priyanka of North Central Province 21/11, 21/15 in the Women’s Singles semi-finals.

The men's doubles title was won by Central Province who beat Southern Province 21/16, 16/21, 24/22 after a tough battle. Western Province beat North Western Province 21/13, 21/14 to take third place.

In other categories Western Province beat Southern Province 21/14 and 21/12 to win the Women's Doubles championship while Central Province secured the third place beating North Western Province 21/12, 12/21 and 21/12.

The Mixed Doubles was won by Southern Province who dominated over Western Province by 21/11 and 21/15 while Central Province beat North Western Province 21/19 and 21/15 to win the third place playoff.

Southern Province beat Western Province 3-2 to win the Men’s Team championship as Central Province won the third place.

The Women's Team championship was won by Western Province who beat Southern Province 3-1 while Central Province went on to secure the third place.