South Asian Under-21 Regional Badminton Championships

South Asian Under 21 team championship 

• Sri Lanka finish second in the mixed team event

Sri Lanka lost to India 3-1 on Monday in the finals of the mixed team event at the South Asian under-21 Regional Badminton Championships which is currently taking place in Addu City, Maldives.

Sri Lankans, who topped their group by convincingly overpowering all three of their opponents to stay unbeaten, met a strong Indian team in the final round. 

In the finals, only Ranthushka Sasindu was able to clinch a win for Sri Lanka. He outplayed his Indian counterpart Sai Charan Koya 21-17, 21-17 in the men’s singles.

In the women’s singles, Hasara Chathumhari Wijayarathne went down to Mansi Singh 8-21, 17-21 before Sarath Dunna and Koya defeated Dumindu Abeywickrama and Sasindu in a tight contest that was stretched to three sets 17-21, 21-19, 21-17.

In the women’s doubles, Jananuwani Amanda and Hasini Nusaka lost to Deepshikha Singh and Mansi Singh 19-21, 22-24.

Earlier, in Group B, the Lankans beat Nepal 5-0, Maldives and Bangladesh 5-0. 

India also reached the elimination round in a similar manner, beating both Pakistan and Bhutan 5-0 respectively in Group A.

The individual events and the doubles of the tournament started yesterday.

Sri Lankan team is coached by Yukthi Rangana while Kanchana Wimalasuriya is the manager of the touring 13-member contingent. Tharanga Wimalasuriya will be the lady chaperon. 

All expenses of the tour are borne by Sri Lanka Badminton and the Sports Ministry.