Li Ning International Badminton Series begins

The Dadella Sports Complex in Galle has once again become the battleground for top class badminton action, with the start of the Li Ning Sri Lanka International Series.

This prestigious tournament, endorsed by the Badminton World Federation and organised by Sri Lanka Badminton (SLB), began with a ceremony attended by SLB President Rohan De Silva yesterday.

As the second international badminton event hosted by Sri Lanka this month, the series has become a focal point for enthusiasts and competitors alike and has drawn a diverse assembly of 303 athletes from across 16 nations. A significant contingent from India, numbering 106, and a strong home representation of 87 Sri Lankan athletes are among the competitors, alongside notable participants from Malaysia (31 players), Indonesia (22 players), and Thailand (25 players), all vying for supremacy and the honour of being crowned champion.

The spotlight shines brightly on Sri Lanka’s own Viren Nettasinghe, who enters the tournament as the top seed, carrying the expectations of a nation with his 68th global ranking. The competition is fierce, with international stars such as Indonesia’s Tommy Sugiarto (ranked 91st worldwide), USA’s Mark Shelley Alcala (99th), Norway’s Markus Barath (97th), and the Indian duo of Ravi Ravi and Rithvik Sanjeevi Satish Kimar (ranked 102nd and 124th respectively) challenging for top honours. Sri Lanka’s Buwaneka Goonethilleka, another local hero, enters the fray seeded 12th, ranked 180th in the world.

This tournament, which follows the successful Li Ning Sri Lanka Challenge currently underway at the same venue, offers a total prize fund of $ 5,000 for the winners. It boasts sponsorship from renowned brands such as Li Ning, Mobil, GAC, 3M, and McFoil, underscoring the event’s prestige and the global interest in badminton as a competitive sport.