Three-star Hendahewa and Gunathilaka shine in Nuwara Eliya

Thilini Hendahewa clinched a triple crown while Buwaneka Gunathilaka grabbed a double when the annual Summer Season Badminton Championship 2017 came to a close at the Municipal Indoor Stadium in Nuwara Eliya recently.

The reigning national champion, 20-year old Hendahewa beat KavidiIshadika in a thrilling open women’s final (21/16, 16/21, 21/16) and also teamed up with the same opponent to defeat Hashini Ambalangoda and Dilmi Dias in the open women’s final. 

Hendahewa tripled her medal count in Nuwara Eliya when she teamed up with Sachin Dias and got the better of Rajitha Dhahanayake and Nadeesha Gayanthi in a three-setter (18/21, 21/10, 21/10) in the open mixed doubles.

Gunathilaka also showed his impressive form to win the open men’s crown when he defeated Sachin Dias in a closely-contested final. 

The two opponents were seen playing for the same side in the Open men’s doubles and they eventually went on to win the title by easily overcoming the duo of Imesh Hasaranga and Vibhavi Madhusha in the final of which the scores read 21/8, 21/13 in favour of the champions.

Over 485 shuttlers were in action during the six-day event which saw 615 matches and 26 events being conducted.

The final ceremony on 4 May was graced by Chief Guest Mclarens Group Chairman Rohan De Silva and Guest of Honour former Mayor and CPBA President Mahinda Dodampagamage. The event was made a success thanks in large part to the untiring efforts of CPBA Secretary Chamara Aluthge and the entire team of the Central Province Badminton Association.

The tournament was held on rubber carpets that were used on courts and it was the first time such surfaces were used for cooler weather conditions. 

The high-profile tournament, which has a history of 20 years, was organised by the Central Province Badminton Association (CPBA) under the patronage of the Sri Lanka Badminton Association (SLBA) with the support of the Nuwara Eliya Municipal Council. 

Champions and runners-up:

Under-11 Girls’ Singles

Winner – Ranithma Liyanage

Runner-up – Chiranya Jayawardena

Under-11 Boys’ Singles

Winner – Reshan Dimbukkwalage

Runner-up - Hiruka Sahanmith

Under-13 Girls’ Singles

Winner - N. Nagahawatta

Runner-up – Maneesha Jayawardena

Under-13 Boys’ Singles

Winner – Sanjana Dewasurendra

Runner-up – Manthuka Rupathunga

Under-15 Girls’ Doubles

Winners – Yeheni Kurruppu/Aishwarya Ravichandran

Runners-up – Manuji Mithara/Heshani Palihakkara

Under-15 Girls’ Singles

Winner – Yeheni Vonara Kuruppu

Runner-up – Suhasni Vidanage

Under-15 Boys’

Doubles

Winners – Dumindu Abeywickrama/Thenuka De Silva

Runners-up – Sethum Perera/Savinaka Weerasekara

Under- 15 Boys’ Singles

Winner – Dumindu Abeywickrama

Runner-up – Chaniru Manmitha

Under-17 Girls’ Doubles

Winners – Nadara Gunawardena/Surani Wickramasinghe

Runners-up-Hansima Ashirwadi/Nivarthi Wijewardena

Under-17 Girls’ Singles

Winner - Dilmi Dias

Runner-up - Nadara Gunawardena

Under-17 Boys’

Doubles

Winners – Dunshan Hettiarachchi/Kakolya Silva

Runners-up - Deegayukahatapitiya/Kakindu Ranaweera

Under-17 Boys’ Singles

Runner-up – Rasindu Hendahewa

Winner - Praveen Bhanuka Abeysinghe

Under-19 Girls’ Doubles

Winners – Geethmi Abeyratne/Hasini Ambalangodage

Runners-up – Kavindya Ratnadasa/Amali Samaranayake

Under-19 Girls’ Singles

Winner – Hasini Nushaka Ambalangodage

Runner-up – Hasara Wierathna

Under-19 Boys’ Doubles

Runners-up – Movindu Halloluwa/Nilanka Randilukshan

Winners - Lakindu De Silva/Radith Milana

Under-19 Boys’ Singles

Winner    - Ranthushka Karunathilake

Runner-up - Viran Anusanga Perera

Over 50 Men’s Singles

Winner – Crishantha Dodampa Gamage

Runner-up - Adrian De Lima

Over-40 Men’s Doubles

Winners – Dharshana Senarathne, Kamal Gamlath

Runners-up – Subash Janaka, Roshan Neththasinghe

Over-40 Men’s Singles

Winner – Dammika Wanigasekara

Runner-up – Dharshana Senarathne

Over-35 Men’s Singles

Winner - D.D. Kaluarachchi

Runner-up – Dharshana Sampath

Open Mixed Doubles

Winners - Sachin Dias/Thilini Hendahewa

Runners-up – Rajitha Dhahanayake/Nadeesha Gayanthi

Open Women’s Doubles

Winners – Thilini Hendahewa/KavidiIshadika

Runners-up – Hashini Ambalangoda/Dilmi Dias

Open Women’s Singles

Winner – Thilini Hendahewa

Runner-up - KavidiIshadika

Open Men’s Doubles

Winners - Sachin Dias/Buwaneka Gunathilake

Runners-up – Imesh Hasaranga/Vibhavi Madhusha

Open Men’s Singles

Winner – Buwaneka Gunathilake

Runner-up - Sachin Dias