Ranithma Liyanage, National women’s champion
Most of the leading shuttlers are expected to take part at the Summer Season All-Island Open Badminton Championships at the Nuwara Eliya Municipal Council Indoor Courts from April 20-28.
Central Province Badminton Association, in collaboration with Sri Lanka Badminton (SLB) will host this event with the generous sponsorships of Mcfoil, Mobil, Li Ning, 3M, and GACn. The event is assisted by the SLB.
This tournament is an annual Level 1 ranking tournament, a key event in SLB’s calendar, will see top class local shuttlers across the country showcase their skills in a variety of categories, including open, junior, senior, and combined age groups. Competitions will be held under men’s and women’s singles and doubles, mixed doubles, and team events. Events in the junior division will be held for age groups from U-11 to U-19, while the senior division will welcome shuttlers over 30 years, extending up to above 70 years.
The championships will also feature competitions for all age groups in women’s and men’s doubles and mixed doubles within the combined age group category. Moreover, Plate Championships are allocated for those who narrowly miss the finals in the semis.The National shuttlers will be the main attraction of this tournament while they will take part in open men’s, women’s and mixed double events.
Ranithma Liyanage the National champion, Warangana Jayawardena, Lochana de Silva are few National players who will participate in this tournament.
The opening ceremony and the preliminary round matches of the Summer Season Championships will be held on April 20, followed by a series of competitive rounds leading up to the semi-finals on April 27 and the grand finals and closing ceremony on April 28.
The champions, runners-up, and semi-finalists will have a prize pool of Rs.750,000, in addition to trophies, medals, and certificates.SLB President Rohana de Silva will be the chief guest on final day while top officials of SLB and Central Province Badminton Association well conduct the event.
Dhammika Ratnaweera