Shenuk Samararatne and Nethmi Ratnayake emerged champions at the Northern Province Badminton Association (NPBA) All-Island Open Badminton Championships, which concluded at the Vavuniya District Sports Complex in Omanthai recently.
Samararatne bagged the Open Men’s Singles title with ease, defeating Thilina Rajakaruna in straight sets, while in a contrasting battle Ratnayake overcame Sithuli Ranasinghe, also in straight sets, to clinch the Open Women’s Singles title.
Favourites Buwaneka Goonethilleka and Jason Homer pocketed the Open Men’s Doubles title 2-1 despite facing an early threat from losing finalists Oshamika Karunaratne and Thulith Palliyaguru.
The dominant pair of Isuri Attanayake and Sithumi de Silva recorded a straight win against Nilasi Balasooriya and Jananuwani de Alwis to bag the Open Women’s Doubles title after clinching the Girls’ Under 17 Doubles championship beating Dulanya Karunarathna and Vethmi Mirando in straight sets.
Palliyaguru and Panchali Adhikari teamed up to beat Madhuka Dulanjana and Anurangi Masakorala in the Open Mixed Doubles final, which had an exciting battle.
Maneth Wijegunawardana bounced back to beat Pamith Attanayake 2-1 and claim the Boys’ Under 19 Singles title, while Dilni Ambalangodage defeated Achini Gamage in straight sets and emerged the Girls’ Under 19 Singles champion.
Sanuda Ariyasinghe and Thisath Rupathunga defeated Dinidu Samarasinghe and Dinidu Sithusara in straight sets to emerge Boys’ Under 19 Doubles champions.
Samiru Ranasinghe faced stiff challenge from Pamudu Randiligama before recording a 2-1 win to become the Boys’ Under 17 Singles winner, as Sithuli Ranasinghe experienced a similar challenge from Nethmi Ratnayake before recording a 2-1 win to become the Girls’ Under 17 Singles champion.
Keneth Aruggoda and Dinew Wimalaratne teamed up to hand Thinura Jayasinghe and Raniru Midipollawatte a straight defeat and become Boys’ Under 17 Doubles champions, while Isuri Attanayake and Sithumi de Silva warmed up for the Open Women’s Doubles final, defeating Dulanya Karunaratne and Vethmi Mirando in straight sets to become Girls’ Under 17 Doubles champions.
Thamindu Fernando claimed a double crown in the Under 15 category, winning the Boys’ Singles and Doubles title defeating Yasiru Jayawardana, and teamed up with Senuda Rajapaksa to beat Dinendra Rodrigo and Chenitha Vihas in the Boys’ Doubles final.
Saheli Kaluthararachchi recorded identical set wins to overcome Tharuki Kulatunga in straight sets to emerge the Girls’ Under 15 Singles champion while the pair of Sayuni Kulasuriya and Limandi Bandara overcame tough opponents in Miyesi Nethara and Nisheli Shenaya before recording a straight win for the Girls’ Under 15 Doubles title.
Dario Dalpathadu earned a double crown in the Under 11 category, beating Shon Silva 2-1 to claim the Boys’ Singles title, and paired up with the latter to overcome Chenuka Chamod and Hasadu Sanula 2-1 in the Boys’ Doubles final.
Yenumi Sethinka had very little trouble in defeating Hirudini Wijeratne in straight sets to become the Girls’ Under 11 Singles champion.
Janandi Amaya and Siheli Jayasundara received a walkover from Esandi Ratnayake and Hirudini Wijeratne in the Girls’ Under 11 Doubles final.
The championship featured a wide range of events from Under 11 to Under 19 in the Junior category, Over 30 to Over 70 in the Senior category, and the Open events with over 500 shuttlers at the NPBA All-Island Open Badminton Championships held from 18-21 January at the Vavuniya District Sports Complex in Omanthai.
Organised by the NPBA, the four-day competition was sanctioned by Sri Lanka Badminton as a National Level 1 Ranking tournament.