Team Sri Lanka leave for BWF World Junior Championships

The Sri Lanka Junior Badminton team members pose for a photograph with Sri Lanka Badminton President Rohan de Silva (centre) prior to their departure for Kazan, Russia. From left: Female chaperone Malika Waduge, Team Manager Saman Wijesinghe, Coach Thilini Jayasinghe (right) and SLB Vice President Palitha Hettiarachchi (second right) are also present

The Sri Lanka Junior Badminton team members pose for a photograph with Sri Lanka Badminton President Rohan de Silva (centre) and parents of the touring shuttlers prior to their departure for Kazan, Russia. Female chaperone Malika Waduge (left), Team Manager Saman Wijesinghe (right) coach Thilini Jayasinghe (second right) and SLB Vice President Palitha Hettiarachchi are also present

A team of eight promising Sri Lankan shuttlers left for Kazan, Russia where they will compete in the 21st BWF World Junior Championships.

The premier junior badminton tournament will be held from 30 September to 13 October.

The team, coached by former National Champion and double Olympian Thilini Jayasinghe, includes Lochana De Silva, Viren Nettasinghe, Chamath Dias, Thulith Palliyaguru, Dilmi Dias, Panchali Adhikari, Chamudi Abeywickrema and Anurangi Maskorala. Sri Lanka Schools Badminton Association Secretary Saman Wijesinghe is the Manager on tour and Malika Waduge is the female chaperone.

The Junior Worlds will be held under two categories. The World Junior Mixed Team Championships will be held from 30 September to 5 October, followed by the individual and doubles events which will take place from 7-13 October. Team Sri Lanka has been pitted along with South Korea, Singapore, Slovakia and Peru in their group.

Prior to their departure, the team took part in a residential training program at the Sri Lanka Badminton Headquarters at Maitland Place, Colombo 7, under close supervision of national coaches.

Another significant fact is that the Association did not allow any burden to fall on the players as for the first time in the history, Sri Lanka Badminton came forward to bear all expenses with regard to the tour.