Sri Lanka claim 61 medals at Ceylon Masters Badminton Championship

Sri Lankan shuttlers accounted for a tally of 61 medals at the highly acclaimed Ceylon Masters Badminton Championship which was held in Colombo through 25-28 July. 

Out of the entire tally, Sri Lankan shuttlers claimed 21 gold, 16 silver and 24 bronze medals, out of 60 different age categories ranging from Over-36 to Over-120. 

The Lankan shuttlers gained top honours in the Men’s Singles 35, Women’s Doubles 35, Women’s Singles 40, Mixed Doubles 40, Men’s Singles 45, Men’s Doubles 45, Women’s Doubles 45 FR, Women’s Singles 50, Men’s Doubles 50, Men’s Singles 55, Women’s Doubles 55, Women’s Singles 65, Women’s Singles 65 FR, Men’s Doubles 65, Mixed Doubles 110, Women’s Doubles 100, Women’s Doubles 110, and Mixed Doubles 130 events. 

Among the standout performers for Sri Lanka were Rohan de Silva, Renu Chandrika Perera, Roshan Padmakumara, Manjula Sampath Fernando, Vipuli Seneviratne, Upendra Perera, Clarence Homer, Duminda Cooray, Mohan Wijesinghe, Priyanke Abeyratne, Sriyani Deepika, Mallika Waduge, Nadeesha Gayathri, Hasitha Chanaka, Wijayalakshmi Punchihewa, Rohan Fernando, Lalith Amarasena, Senaka Attanayake, and Krishantha Gamage, who all accounted for gold medals. 

Dishing out a spectacular display of skill and sportsmanship, this year the tournament received an overwhelming response, with a record 536 entries from 11 countries including Australia, Canada, China, India, Indonesia, UAE, Norway, Malaysia, the USA, and host Sri Lanka.

To accommodate the increased number of matches, the organisers secured additional venues across Sri Lanka’s capital of Colombo, notably the Mercantile Badminton Courts and the Otter’s courts, over the four days of the tournament. A team of highly qualified officials, led by International Referee Lakpriya Edirisinghe, conducted the umpiring and line judgments with Ajith Wijayasinghe, a former international referee, serving as the Tournament Director.

The organising committee, spearheaded by Ceylon Masters Badminton President Rohan de Silva, was supported by a dedicated executive committee comprising Sumudu Kumarasinghe, Jaliya Jayasekara, Tharanga Perera, Rohan Fernando, Sahan Pradeep, Sugath Thalwatha, Chandrika de Silva, Lakshmi Punchihewa, Lalith Yatiwella, Mangala Gamage, Priyanka Abeyratne, Senaka Attanayake, Thushari Brahakmanage, Wanda Ingram, Sachithra Vidanagama, and Nishantha Jayamane.

In addition to the intense competition, international players were given the opportunity to visit some of Sri Lanka’s most interesting tourist destinations, facilitated by the designated travel agent. Transport arrangements were meticulously planned, including transfers from the airport to the official hotel in Colombo, as well as shuttle services to the tournament venues.

All winners received prize money and medals, adding to the prestige of the event.