Savinaka, Nadeesha clinch open singles titles

Southern Province Open Badminton Championships

Thursday, 16 March 2023 00:02 - - {{hitsCtrl.values.hits}}

WS winner Nadeesha Gayanthi

Savinaka Weerasekara and Nadeesha Gayanthi clinched men’s and women’s open singles titles at the Southern Province Open Badminton Championships held at the Dadella Sports Complex in Galle.

Weerasekara, a student of D. S. Senanayake College, Colombo, overcame Kasun Madushanka Rathnayake in straight sets (21-8, 21-12) to clinch the title while Gayanthi also lifted her singles crown with a 21-13, 21-13 win over Isuri Amanda De Alwis of Visakha Vidyalaya in the final.

Oshamika Karunarathne and Thulith Thewmika Palliyaguru beat Dinuru Rashmina and Lahiru Weerasighe 21-14, 21-19 to seal the men’s doubles title. Singles champion Gayanthi made it a double when she teamed up with Kavindika Binari de Silva to overcome Madushika Dilrukshi Beruwalage and Buthmi Asini Galagamage 21-14, 21-17 to lift the doubles title.

Kavindika Binari De Silva also enjoyed a double when she teamed up with Siyath Dulneth Senaratne to beat Ranthushka Sasindu Karunathilaka and Gayanthi 18-21, 28-26, 21-19 in one of the most thrilling encounters of the Championships to win the mixed doubles final.

Organised by Sri Lanka Badminton (SLB) and the Southern Province Badminton Association (SPBA) for the 3rd time, the six-day Championships saw over 680 shuttlers in action.

SLB President Rohan de Silva and a host of officials from SLB and SPBA were present at the awards ceremony.

MS Winner Savinaka Weerasekara