Niluka sets up record at shuttle nationals

Shuttle star Niluka Karunaratne set up a record when he won the Open Men’s Singles title for the 14th successive time at the 63rd National Badminton Championships concluded at the Anuradhapura Urban Council courts and the Mike Cook Badminton Stadium.

Niluka overcame his younger brother Dinuka Karunaratne by two sets to nil to win the championship title.

In the Open Women’s Singles Thilini Promodika Hendahewa overcame Kamidi Ishadika by two sets to nil to be the Women’s Open Singles champion.

The five day competition ended last Tuesday and was conducted by the Sri Lanka Badminton Association. The winners were presented with cash awards amounting to One Million Rupees.

The Chief Guest at the finals was the Sports Minister Dayasiri Jayasekera.

FOLLOWINGARETHERESULTS:

OPENMENS’SINGLES: Champion - Niluka Karunarathne; Runner-up: Dinuka Karunarathne.

OPEN WOMENS’SINGLES: ChampionThilini Pramodika Hendahewa; Runner-up: Kamidi Ishadika.

OPENWOMENS’ DOUBLES: ChampionsAchini Rathnasiri and Upuli Samanthika;

Runners-up: Chandrika De Silva and Thilini Hendahewa

OPEN MIXED DOUBLES: Champions - Buwaneka Goonathilake and Kavind Sirimannage;Runners-up: Niluka Karunarathne and Nadeesha Gayanth

UNDER 19 BOYS’SINGLES: Champion - Rasintha Ridma;Runner-up: Maduka Dulanjana.

UNDER 19 BOYS’DOUBLES: Champions - Nadith Anushka and Rasintha Ridma; Runners-up: Imundu Liyanage and Pasindu Palliyaguru.

UNDER 19 GIRLS’ SINGLES: Champion -

Karindika De Silva;

RUNNER-UP:INURAKURUPPU.

UNDER 19 GIRLS’ DOUBLES: Champions - Karindika De Silva and Nilmithara Hettiarachchi;Runners-up: Udana De Alwis and Dakshina Rajarathne

UNDER 17 BOYS’ SINGLES: ChampionTharin Punchihewa;Runner-up: K. Kumarasena.

UNDER 17 BOYS’ DOUBLES: Champions- Tharindu Ambegoda and Tharin Punchihewa;Runners-up: Kasun Amarasena and Venu Pathirana

UNDER 17 GIRLS’ SINGLES: Champion

Hashini Ambalangodage; RUNNER-UP:HASARA WIJAYARATHNE.

UNDER 17 GIRLS’ DOUBLES: Champions- Buthma Golagamage and Thanushi Rathnayake;Runners-up: HasiniAmbalangodage and Hasara Wijayarathne

UNDER 15 BOYS’ SINGLES: Champion

Chamath Dias;Runner-up: J. Perera

UNDER 15 GIRLS’ SINGLES: ChampionIlmi Dias;Runner-up: Anurangi Masakorala

UNDER15BOYS’DOUBLES: Champions

Banuka Abeysinghe and J. Perera RUNNERS-UP:CHAMATH DIASANDCHIRATH

ILLEPERUMAL

UNDER15GIRL’SDOUBLES: Champions- Dilmi Dias andAnurangi Masakorala; RUNNERS-UP:IRUSHI PERERAANDIMLKA GUNATHILAKE.

UNDER 11 BOYS’ SINGLES:

Champion- R. Rupathunge;Runner-up: S. Devasurendra.

UNDER11GIRLS’SINGLES: ChampionDevmi Hithara;Runner-up: S. Umagiliya.

UNDER 13 BOYS’SINGLES: ChampionDuminda Abewickrama;Runner-up: C.Manmitha. – SP