Sri Lanka’s Badminton icon Niluka Karunaratne clinched his 16th National title while young sensation Dilmi Dias clinched a double by winning both Junior and senior singles crowns at the 67th National Badminton Championship and the 37th Junior Nationals.
At the Sugathadasa Indoor Sports Complex in Colombo, Olympian Karunaratne beat Ranthushka Karunatilleke 21-15, 21-10 in the Men’s Singles final to celebrate his second title of the day. Earlier, the famous Karunatarne brothers, Niluka and Dinuka won the doubles title by overcoming Lochana de Silva and Thulith Palliyaguru in an exciting three-setter (20-22, 21-7, 21-10).
Former champion Achini Ratnasiri stretched the junior title holder Dias to three sets in the women’s final in which the latter prevailed 13-21, 21-16, 22-20.
Dias became the national junior champion after winning the Under-19 Girls’ Singles final by defeating Jananuwani Alwis 21-10, 21-5.
Ratnasiri teamed up with Upuli Weerasinghe to win the Women’s Doubles final against Tisuni Midara and Senuji Umagiliyage (21-10, 21-11).
Sachin Dias and veteran Chandrika de Silva defeated Hasitha Chanaka and Upuli Weerasinghe to win the mixed doubles title (21-6, 20-22, 21-16).
Earlier, the doubles finalists, Lochana de Silva and Palliyaguru met in the Under-19 Boys Singles final in which De Silva overcame his counterpart 19-21, 21-19, 21-12 to lift the title.
Former national champions Niroshan Wijekoon, Louis Karunaratne and senior players such as Sri Lanka Badminton President Rohan de Silva also clinched victories.
Lyceum International School emerged Junior Boys’ overall champions while Sangamitta Vidyalaya, Galle clinched the girls’ overall title.
The 67th Nationals and 37th Junior Nationals were organised by Sri Lanka Badminton in association with the Sri Lanka Schools Badminton Association and were carried out concurrently. Both tournaments, originally scheduled for last year, had to be postponed due to the Presidential election.
Dhammika Muthugala, Director General of the Sports Development Department of the Ministry of Sports was the chief guest at the finals and the presentation ceremony.
67th Nationals & 37th Junior Nationals Champions:
Men’s Doubles 65+: Rohan De Silva/Sunil Jayasiri (McLarens)
Men’s Singles 65+: Sunil Jayasiri
Men’s Doubles 60+: Louie Karunaratne/Nandana Premachandra (Otters)
Men’s Singles 60+: Louie Karunaratne (Otters)
Men’s Doubles 55+: Rohan Fernando/Niranjan Wijesekara
Men’s Singles 55+: Rohan Fernando
Men’s Doubles 50+: Nihal Amarasena/Darshana Senarathna
Men’s Singles 50+: Niroshana Wijekoon (NPTC)
Men’s Singles 45+: Upendra Jayawardena (McLarens)
Women’s Doubles 40+: Priyanka Abeyratne/Chandrika De Silva
Men’s Doubles 40+: Subash Janaka/Duminda Jayakody (McLarens)
Men’s Singles 40+: Subash Janaka (McLarens)
Men’s Singles 35+: Hemantha Kodithuwakku
Men’ Singles 23+: Ranthushka Karunathilaka (NPTC)
Girls’ Doubles U19: Dilmi Dias/Anurangi Masakorala (OLV/S)
Boys’ Doubles U19: Lochana De Silva/Thulith Palliyaguru (N/DSS)
Girls’ Singles U19: Dilmi Dias (OLV)
Boys’ Singles U19: Lochana De Silva
Girls’ Doubles U17: Panchali Adhikari/Manudi Mithara (MCK/SV)
Boys’ Double U17: Thenuka De Silva/Viren Nettasinghe (DH/SPC)
Girls’ Doubles U17: Panchali Adhikari (MCK)
Boys’ Singles U17: Viren Nettasinghe (SPC)
Girls’ Doubles U15: Maneesha Abhimani/Samindi Onel (SG/S)
Boys’ Doubles U15: Luwin Kodippili/Vidush Sumanadasa (LY/STC)
Girls’ Singles U15: Pravina Wijesundara (MBV)
Boys’ Singles U15: Vidush Sumanadasa (STC)
Girls’ Doubles U13: Dasithma Jayathilaka/Ranithma Liyanage (SHC/CC/BG)
Boys’ Doubles U13: Pamith Attanayake/Thidasa Weragoda (LY/SJC)
Girls’ Singles U13: Ranithma Liyanage (CC/BG)
Boys’ Singles U13: Akindu Methmika (DH)
Girls Singles U11: Vishwanie Wanniarachchi (LY)
Boys’ Singles U11: Senuth Perera
Open Mixed Doubles: Sachin Dias/Chandrika De Silva (NPTC)
Women’s Doubles: Achini Rathnasiri/Upuli Weerasinghe (McLarens/MAS)
Men’s Doubles: Dinuka Karunaratne/Niluka Karunaratne (NPTC)
Women’s Singles: Dilmi Dias (McLarens)
Plate Men’s Singles: Kaveesha Muthukuda
Men’s Singles: Niluka Karunaratne
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