Prestigious Li Ning International Badminton Series kicks off in SL today

Sri Lanka Badminton is set to host its second international tournament of the month, the 

Li Ning Sri Lanka International Series, from 13-18 February at the Dadella Sports Complex in Galle. 

Endorsed by the Badminton World Federation, the event is anticipated to be a highlight of badminton talent and competition, featuring 303 athletes from 16 nations.

The tournament will display an impressive roster of participants, including 106 competitors from India and 87 from Sri Lanka, with notable representations from Malaysia (31 players), Indonesia (22 players), and Thailand (25 players), all competing for top honours. Leading the seedings is Sri Lanka’s premier player VirenNettasinghe, ranked 68th in the world. Other prominent seeded competitors include Indonesia’s Tommy Sugiarto, ranked 91st globally, USA’s Mark Shelley Alcala at 99th, Norway’s Markus Barath at 97th, and Indian players Ravi and Rithvik Sanjeevi Satish Kumar, ranked 102nd and 124th respectively. Sri Lanka’s Buwaneka Goonethilleka, ranked 180th, is seeded 12th. 

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.