15 shuttlers represent Sri Lanka at Yonex BWF World Junior Championships in China

A contingent of 21, including 15 players and six officials, will leave for China to represent Sri Lanka at the upcoming Yonex BWF World Junior Championships 2024 to be held at the Nanchang International Sports Centre in Jiangxi, China. 

The Sri Lankan shuttlers, which include eight girls and seven boys, will be featured in a series of two tournaments – the Yonex BWF World Junior Team Championship for the Suhandinata Cup and the Yonex BWF World Junior Championship for the Eye Level Cup – during 30 September to 13 October, with a three-day training program prior to the tournament. 

The Sri Lanka Junior teams, led by Ranithma Liyanage and Shenuk Samararatne, will initially participate in the Olympic Solidarity Youth Athletic Development Program – World Junior Championship 2024 from 26-28 September before they enter the competitions. 

The Yonex BWF World Junior Championship for the Suhandinata Cup will be held through 30 September to 5 October, followed by the Yonex BWF World Junior Championship for the Eye Level Cup, which will be conducted from 7-13 October. Both these competitions and the three-day Olympic Solidarity Youth Athletic Development Program will be held at the Nanchang International Sports Centre in Jiangxi, Nanchang, situated approximately 1,430 kilometres south from China’s capital, Beijing. 

The Sri Lanka Junior boys, led by Shenuk Samararatne, includes Thilina Rajakarune, Thidasa Weragoda, Achinthya Madapathage, Pasindu Mihiranga, Sanjula Handapangodage, and Pamith Attanayake. The Ranithma Liyanage-led eight-member Sri Lanka Junior girls’ team includes Sithuli Ranasinghe, Rashmi Bhagya Mudalige, Varangana Jayawardena, Dilini Ambalangodage, Sandathi Hewagallage, Isuri Attanayake, and Sithumi Minara de Silva. 

Officials accompanying the teams are Sahan Deelaka and Duminda Nirashana as Coaches, Asanga Wijesundera as Team Manager, and Sumithra Dissanayake, Buddhika de Silva, and Vijayalakshmi Punchihewa as Team Officials. 

The dual Grade I competitions, organised by the Chinese Badminton Association (CBA) on behalf of the Badminton World Federation (BWF), will see a total of 40 countries competing under eight different groups. Sri Lanka has been slotted alongside world badminton heavyweights Indonesia, Poland, Northern Marianas, and Macau China in Group ‘F’. 

Group ‘A’ includes host China, South Korea, Australia, Hong Kong China, and Ghana, while France, Chinese Taipei, Singapore, Slovakia, and Armenia form Group ‘B’. Malaysia, Netherlands, Estonia, Norway, and Mongolia form Group ‘C’ while the UAE, Denmark, New Zealand, Trinidad and Tobago, and Cook Islands are included in Group ‘D’. Group ‘E’ includes India, Turkiye (Turkey), Mauritius, Peru, and Azerbaijan, while Japan, Slovenia, England, Uganda, and Latvia compete under Group ‘G’. Thailand, USA, Portugal, Vietnam, and the Philippines form Group ‘H’ to complete the number of 40 teams participating.