Monday Jan 27, 2025
Monday Jan 27, 2025
Thursday, 23 January 2025 02:57 - - {{hitsCtrl.values.hits}}
Shenuk Samararatne and Nethmi Ratnayake emerged champions at the NPBA All-Island Open Badminton Championships which concluded at the Vavuniya District Sports Complex in Omanthai on Tuesday. Shenuk bagged the Open Men’s Singles title with ease, defeating Thilina Rajakaruna in straight sets, while in a contrasting battle Nethmi overcame Sithuli Ranasinghe, also in straight sets, to clinch the Open Women’s Singles title.
Favourites Buwaneka Gunathilake and Jason Homer pocketed the Open Men’s Doubles title, despite receiving an early threat from losing finalists Oshamika Karunaratne and Thulith Palliyaguru by 2-1. The dominant pair of Isuri Attanayake and Sithumi de Silva recorded a straight win against Nilasi Balasuriya and Jananuwani de Alwis to bag the Open Women’s Doubles title, after clinching the Girls’ Under-17 Doubles championship beating Dulanya Karunaratne and Vethmi Mirando in straight sets. Thulith Palliyaguru and Panchali Adhikari teamed up to beat Madhuka Dulanjana and Anurangi Masakorala in the Open Mixed Doubles final, which had an exciting battle.
Maneth Wijegunawardena bounced back to beat Pamith Attanayake 2-1 and claim the Boy’s Under-19 Singles title, while Dilni Ambalangodage had very trouble to defeat Achini Gamage in straight sets and emerge the Girl’s Under-19 Singles champion. Sanuda Ariyasinghe and Thisath Rupathunga defeated Dinidu Samarasinghe and Dinidu Sithusara in straight sets to emerge Boy’s Under-19 Doubles champs.
Samiru Ranasinghe faced stiff challenge from Pamudu Randiligama before recording a 2-1 win to become the Boy’s Under-17 Singles winner, as Sithuli Ranasinghe experienced a similar challenge from Nethmi Ratnayake, before recording a 2-1 win to become Girl’s Under-17 Singles champion. Keneth Aruggoda and Dinew Wimalaratne teamed up to hand Thinura Jayasinghe and Raniru Midipollawatte straight defeat and become Boys’ Under-17 Doubles champions, while Isuri Attanayake and Sithumi de Silva warmed up for the Open Women’s Doubles final, defeating Dulanya Karunaratne and Vethmi Mirando in straight sets to become Girls’ Under-17 Doubles champs.
Thamindu Fernando claimed a double crown in the Under-15 category, winning the Boy’s Singles and Doubles title. He comfortably defeated Yasiru Jayawardena in straight sets in the Singles final, and teamed up with Senuda Rajapaksa to beat Dinendra Rodrigo and Chenitha Vihas in the Boy’s Doubles final in straight sets to annex the double crown. Saheli Kaluthararachchi recorded identical set wins to overcome Tharuki Kulatunga in straight sets to emerge the Girl’s Under-15 Singles champion while the pair of Sayuni Kulasuriya and Limandi Bandara overcame a tough opponent in Miyesi Nethara and Nisheli Shenaya before recording a straight win for the Girls’ Under-15 Doubles title.
Dario Dalpathadu earned a double crown in the Under-11 category, as he beat Shon Silva 2-1 to claim the Boy’s Singles title, and then paired up with Shon to overcome Chenuka Chamod and Hasadu Sanula 2-1 in the Boy’s Doubles final. Yenumi Sethinka had very little trouble in defeating Hirudini Wijeratne by straight sets to become the Girl’s Under-11 Singles champion. Janandi Amaya and Siheli Jayasundara received a walkover from Esandi Ratnayake and Hirudini Wijeratne in the Girls’ Under-11 Doubles final.
The championship featured a wide range of events from Under-11 to Under-19 in the Junior category, Over-30 to Over-70 in the Senior category, and the Open events with over 500 shuttlers at the NPBA All-Island Open Badminton Championships held from January 18th to 21st at the Vavuniya District Sports Complex in Omanthai. Organised by the Northern Province Badminton Association (NPBA), the four-day competition, sanctioned by Sri Lanka Badminton as a National Level 1 Ranking tournament, and was sponsored by Mobil, Li Ning, McFoil, 3M and GAC.
Results of all finals
