National Badminton Championship a success

Monday, 20 October 2014 00:00 - - {{hitsCtrl.values.hits}}

The Sri Lanka Badminton Association’s annual flagship event, the National Badminton Championships, where all the country’s top shuttlers vie for national honours, was staged for the second consecutive year at the Jayathilaka Sports Complex in Nawalapitiya.

From left: Sri Lanka Badminton Association President Suraj Dandeniya, Fashion Bug Assistant Marketing Manager S.M. Faham, Fashion Bug Senior Marketing Executive Ishan Gayasri Godamanna, Brigadier Athula Galagamage, Sri Lanka Army, Women’s Single Open Winner Thilini Hendahewa Event organisers took the initiative to enliven the contest by conducting the tournament on a grand scale. The new initiative also provided a novel experience to most of the players who competed in the national championships at an outstation location for the second consecutive occasion. The main sponsors of the event were Yonex Sunrise Company Ltd. Singapore along with Sri Lankan clothing retailer Fashion Bug. In addition to cash sponsorships, Fashion Bug also gave away vouchers to the winners. As one of Sri Lanka’s leading retail clothing chains with over 17 outlets island-wide, Fashion Bug is heavily involved in sports and CSR activities, with all 17 of its branches contributing and participating in these initiatives. Furthermore, Fashion Bug has also established a very strong CSR program under its Educational CSR platform, ‘Sisu Dirimaga’. “We wish to make a significant and real change in the society we work in, and sports and education are a must for everyone in order that they may become responsible citizens, regardless of age and gender,” Fashion Bug Director Shabier Subian said. This year’s championship was a landmark event as it drew the highest number of entries in its history. The 62nd version of the competition turned another page in the game’s history in Sri Lanka, as Sri Lanka Badminton announced that for the second consecutive year the highest prize money would be presented, with Rs. 1 million on offer to the winners of the weeklong event. The 2014 Championship’s categories were the Open Men’s and Women’s, Over 35 and 40 Veterans and Over 50 and 55 Masters, Schoolboy and Schoolgirl Under 11, 13, 15, 17 and19 events. Thus, the championship caters to almost all segments of badminton lovers. Overall the week-long championship consisted of 29 contests. The flagship annual event once again attracted the best players this year too. Sri Lanka’s ace men’s player Niluka Karunaratne was aiming to clinch the men’s singles title for the 14th year. He accomplished this with style and ease. His three younger brothers, Diluka, Chamika and Dinuka also played exceptionally. The youngest-ever women’s national champion, 19-year-old Youth Olympics player Thini Hendahewa of Visakha Vidyalaya secured a second term as champion. Eight times women’s singles winner Chandrika De Silva too strived to stamp her class. Meanwhile a batch of 30 umpires trained by BWF-accredited umpire Rohan De Silva was also recognised as accredited umpires of the SLBA Panel of Umpires during the tournament. According to the organisers, all facilities have been looked into and the players’ welfare had been considered as the top most priority. The awards ceremony on 12 October brought the curtain down on a most successful National Badminton Championship. The Chief Guest of the final day, Sports Minister Mahindananda Aluthgamage could not attend the awards ceremony due to other official commitments but compensated by being present on the penultimate day, motivating the players and well-wishers who were present. This year over 700 players were selected based on applications.