Srilankan Airlines retain TTSC Shuttle Team Championships

The final was stretched for almost over 100 minutes, the clincher, being the mixed double

Defending Champion, Srilankan Airlines had to fight every inch of the way to beat Walkers Tours (3/2), as they retained the Travel Trade Sports Club Badminton Open Team Championship 2018, at 23rd edition of the tournament, sponsored by Serendib Leisure Management for the 08th successive year, concluded at S. Thomas’ College, Mt. Lavinia, Indoor Sports Complex, last Sunday(02nd September).

The final was stretched for almost over 100 minutes, the clincher, being the mixed double ; Srilankan Airlines drew first blood, winning the Mens Single and the Mens double ; Walkers Tours fought tooth and nail and equalised, winning the Womens Singles and the Women’s double.

The clincher, the Mixed double was an absolute thriller, a three setter; Sri Lankans won the first set 21/13, Walkers Tours won the second set 21/17 and Srilankans had enough fuel in their tanks to take the third set, 21/8.

Srilankan Airlines retained the Veterans Team Championship too (Men’s O-40 and Women O-35), beating Cinnamon Lakeside, 2/0.

Veterans Team Championship results (comprising 01 Mens Single, 01 Mens Double & 01 Mixed Double )

Quarter Finals : Srilankan Airlines beat Eco Team, 2/0; Cinnamon Grand “A” beat Jetwing Travels, 2/0; Cinnamon Lakeside beat Emirates, 2/0; Walkers Tours beat Club Hotel Dolphin, 2/0.

Semi Finals : Srilankan Airlines beat Cinnamon Grand “A”, 2/0; Cinnamon Lakeside beat Walkers Tours (2017 runnersup), 2/0.

Final : Srilankan Airlines beat Cinnamon Lakeside, 2/0 (Men’s Single: Dayantha Fernando (Sri Lankan) beat Anura Hewage, 21/7, 21/14; Mens Double : CWM Peter and Mahesh Jayasinghe (Srilankan) beat Niranjan Karunatillake and U.V. Nishantha, 21/14, 21/17.

Special Awards : Most Outstanding Player (Men) – Dayantha Fernando (Srilankan); Most Outstanding Player (Women) – Shalika Jayawardena (Club Hotel Dolphin, Waikkala)

Open Team Championships ( Comprising one Men’s Single, One Men’s Double, One Women’s Single, One Women’s doubles and one Mixed Doubles )

Quarter Finals : Srilankan Airlines beat Jetwing Travels, 3/0; Mermaid Hotel and Club, Kalutara beat Uga Escapes, 3/2; Cinnamon Grand Colombo “A” beat Village Habarana, 3/0; Walkers Tours beat Aitken Spence Hotel Management, 3/2.

Semi-finals : Srilankan Airlines beat Mermaid Hotel and Club, Kalutara, 3/0; Walkers Tours beat Cinnamon Grand Colombo “A”, 3/2.

Final : Srilankan Airlines beat Walkers Tours, 3/2

Mens Single: Dasitha Dahanayake (Srilankan) beat Richinda Fernando (Walkers) 21/6, 21/5 ; Men’s Doubles: Dayantha Fernando and Nirosh Silva (Srilankan) beat Chandika Jayasinghe and Richinda Fernando (Walkers) 21/8, 21/9 ; Womens Singles – Kavisha Narangoda (Walkers) beat Niyomi Bakmeedeniya (Srilankan) , 21/8, 21/7;

Women’s Doubles – Kavisha Narangoda and Nalika Abeysuriya (Walkers) beat Niyomi Bakmeedeniya and Shalini Hewakoppara (Srilankan), 21/18, 21/16;

Mixed Doubles : Nirosh Silva amd Shalini Hewakoppara (Srilankan) beat Prabath Harshakumar and Shivanthi Kotage (Walkers), 21/13, 17/21, 21/8.

Special Awards : Most Promising Player (Men) – N.V. Dias from Mermaid Hotel and Club, Kalutara;

Most Outstanding Player (Women) – Kavisha Narangoda from Walkers Tours;

Most outstanding Player (Men) – Dasitha Dahanayake from Srilankan Airlines.

Awards were presented by the Chief Guest, Adrian Jansz, General Manager /Sales and Marketing Serendib Leisure Management, Guest of Honour, Suranjith de Fonseka, Managing Director, Diethlm Travels and Anushka Perera, Tournament Co-ordinator, all from TTSC.