Pulina Wellalage and Thilina Rajakaruna entered the boys under 17 final of the National Badminton Championship which is now in progress at Sugathadasa Indoor Stadium.
In the semi finals held yesterday evening Wellalage the fifth seeded player defeated Thenul Ganewatte in two straight sets. The 16 year old shuttler from St Sebastian's, Moratuwa Wellalage who was outstanding at the recently concluded Asian Junior International Meet in UAE had it easy in the first set 21/11 to take an early lead over Thenul Ganewatte the fourth seeded player from Richmond College Galle was more competitive in the second set but Wellalage had a hard-fought win by 21/19 to enter the final which will be held today at 9.30 a.m.
The second semi-final between Reshan Harith and Thilina Rajakaruna also was a two-setter which Rajakaruna dominated to win by 21/14,21/17 to enter the final. In fact Reshan Harith the sixth seeded player who created an upset win over top seed Senuk Samarartna of St. Sebastian's yesterday couldn't maintain the momentum and Rajakaruna the eighth seeded player from St. Sebastian's moved ahead to beat Reshan Harith to enter the final and two Sebastianites, Wellalage and Rajakaruna will meet in the boys under 17 final today.
Meanwhile, the open men's and women's singles started yesterday and most of the top-ranking shuttlers are taking part in this event while two top players Dinuka Karunaratne and Thilini Hendahewa both were former National champions will not be in action this time. Buwaneka Gunatilleka the defending champion of the men's singles, Sachin Dias, Rasindu Hendahewa and two promising school-boy shuttlers Viren Nettasinghe of St. Peter's, Bambalapitiya and Dumindu Abeywickrama of Royal College both of whom have good international experience are the key players this time.
Kavindu Sirimanage Varangana Jayawadena and 16-year-old Ranithma Liyanage from Christ Church College, Baddegama are the key players of the open women's singles. Ranithma has entered the girls under 17 final and also on her way to take the new National crown. However, the experienced player Nadeesha Gayanthi is also fighting for the title with a few other schoolgirls also in good form to give good competition at this open event.
The finals of the open men's singles, women's singles, doubles and mixed doubles are scheduled to be played on the final day on January 22.
The President of Sri Lanka Badminton Rohan de Silva said: "this time record number of school shuttlers are involving this junior National championship while few of them will compete for the open men's and women's events and will get the much-needed exposure."
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