Ashini upsets title-holder Dilmi at SLB Nationals

Ashini Fernando yesterday stunned the defending Women’s Singles National champion Dilmi Dias to make it to the quarter-finals of the 68th National Badminton Championships continued at the Mercantile Badminton Association Courts in Colombo yesterday.

Dias who was aiming for back-to-back national titles, lost in straight sets with a scoreline of (21-15, 21-19). Fernando will meet seventh seed Thiyana Vidanaarachchi in today’s quarter-final at the same venue. Vidanaarachchi advanced after defeating Wasana Egodage 21-14, 21-14. 

Former champion, veteran Chandrika de Silva also advanced after defeating Jananuwani Amanda 21-13, 21-18.

De Silva’s opponent in the quarter-final was Hasini Ambalangodage who overcame Pravina Wijesundara 21-11, 21-10 in yesterday’s last-16 clash. 

Others who advanced to women’s singles quarters were Nadeesha Gayanthi (beat Chamudi Abeywickrama 21-16, 24026, 21-11) and Madushika Dilrukshi (beat Suhasni Gayanthi 21-19, 21-16).

In the men’s side, defending champion Dinuka Karunaratne stormed into the quarters with a dominant 21-12, 21-11 win over Siyath Senaratne at the same venue yesterday.

However, top shuttler Sachin Dias had to retire due to an injury during the third set of his pre-quarter-final match against Viren Nettasinghe as the latter advanced with a 11-21, 21-15, 5-4 margin.

Nettasinghe booked a quarter-final meeting with Dumindu Abeywickrama who yesterday defeated Nilesh Wijesekara 21-12, 21-17. 

Top seed Lochana de Silva also failed to make it to the quarter-finals after losing 11-21, 16-21 to Chamika Karunaratne.

Dinuka Karunaratna, meanwhile, stormed into quarters with a 21-23, 21-10, 21-10 win over Buwaneka Goonatilleke.

Ranthushka Karunathilake (beat Charith Illeperumarachchi 20-22, 21-14, 21-8), Lahiru Weerasinghe (beat Shamika de Silva 21-14, 21-9) and Rasindu Hendahewa (beat Chaniru Mirando 21-7, 21-11) also booked their placed in the quarters.

Apart from the MBA courts, matches are being held at two more venues in Colombo, namely the Sri Lanka Badminton (SLB) Headquarters and Otter Aquatic Club where a total of 763 matches will be played under a number of different categories.

The matches are broadcast live on SLB’s official Youtube channel https://www.facebook.com/watch/SriLankaBadminton.lk/ and Facebook account https://www.facebook.com/badminton.srilanka.58 .