Badminton: Niluka and Thilini the best at 64th Nationals

Niluka Karunaratne defended his unbeaten record to win the National Men's Badminton Championship 2016 for the 16th consecutive year at the 64th National Badminton Championships concluded at the Boyagane Army Indoor Stadium week. 

Thilini Hendahewa clinched the Women's crown for the second year when she scored a 2-0 win over Kavindi Ishadika in the finals earning a double crown as she won the Doubles event too. 

The men's final match took a different turn this time as Dinuka Karunaratne who played in the finals in the past few years was knocked-out in the semi-finals by another member of the Karunaratne family - young Chamika Karunaratne. 

In the Men's Open Doubles event which hogged the limelight in the tournament Buwaneka Gunatilleke partnering Sachin Dias defeated the Niluka Karunaratne and Dinuka Karunaratne combination with a hard fought 2-1 win.

In the Women's Doubles Thilini Hendahewa and Kavindi Ishadika overcame Achini Ratnasiri and Upuli Samanthika in a closely contested 2-0 win. 

Buwaneka Gunatilleke combining with Kavindi Ishadika trounced the present champion Niluka Karunaratne and former women's champion Chandrika de Silva 2-1 to win the Mixed Doubles event. 

Apart from the Thilini Hendahewa and Kavindi Ishadika duo (Women's Doubles and Mixed Doubles) Buwaneka Gunatilleke (Men's Doubles and Mixed Doubles) also won double crowns. 

Chamika Karunaratne beat Dinuka Karunaratne 2-0 while the elder Karunaratne beat Sachin Dias 2-0 to enter the Men's Singles finals.

In the Women's semi-finals Achni Ratnasiri was defeated by Thilini Hendahewa 2-0 and Kavindi Ishadika scored a 2-0 win over Dilmi Dias to enter the finals. 

The Boys' and Girls' nationals taking place at the same venue saw Anandian Maduka Dulanjana winning the Under-19 Singles National crown beating Shamika Hasaranga of Dharmasoka College, Ambalangoda.

In the Girls Under-19 Singles Hasara Wijeratne from Vidura College emerged champion when she overcame Visakian Lasanga Hettiarachchi. 

Richmond College pair Kasun Amarasena and Umudu Liyanage won the Boys doubles event while Sirimavo Bandaranaike's Buthmi Galagamage partnering Anulian Nayanatara Teshani clinched the Girls Doubles crown. 

Finals Results: 

Men's Singles: Niluka Karunaratne beat Chamika Karunaratne 2-0 (21/14, 21/10) 

Men's Doubles: Buwaneka Gunatilleke/Sachin Dias beat Niluka Karunaratne/Dinuka Karunaratne 2-1 (21/15, 23/25, 21/19) 

Women's Singles: Thilini Hendahewa beat Kavindi Ishadika 2-0 (21/14, 21/15) 

Women's Doubles: Thilini Hendahewa/Kavindi Ishadika beat beat Achni Ratnasiri/Upuli Samanthika 2-0 (21/17, 28/26) 

Mixed Doubles: Buwaneka Gunatilleke/Kavindi Isadika beat Niluka Karunaratne/Chandrika De Silva 2-1 (21/12, 18/21)