Peradeniya university clinch shuttle title

by S. M. Jiffrey Abdeen - Kandy Sports Correspondent

University of Peradeniya won both the Men's and Women's Championship and also lifted the overall championship title at badminton by defeating the University of Colombo in the finals of the inter-University badminton championship organised by the University Sports Association and worked off at the Gymnasium of the Peradeniya University in Peradeniya.

University of Peradeniya having players of the calibre of medical student and old Rajan Rajitha Abeysekera and Muditha Abeysekera crushed the University of Colombo 3-0 to snatch the mens title. Rajith Abeysekera was in fine fettle defeating the experienced R. Munasinghe 15/3, and 15/9. In the final singles Mudith Abeysekara overcame P. Tharaka of Colombo University without raising a sweat. - winning 15/0 and 15/2.

But the ladies championship turned out to be a closely contested one and the Peradeniya Shuttlers were stretched to the very end before snatching a close 3-2 win.

At the conclusion of the singles, the Peradeniya losses led 2-1 and the championship went into the deciding doubles matches. Colombo University struck through Tharaka Abeywickrema and Dulangi Sumanadasa to beat R. Illeperuma and A. Kodituwakku (Peradeniya) without much hassle 16/8 and 13/5. But the last doubles pair of C. Ekanayake and L. Welagedera (Peradeniya University) through some fine - count craft got the better of the experienced Kathya de Silva and Devaki Liyanage (Colombo University) beating them 15/6 and 15/13 to clinch the title.