Karunaratne brothers clash in final

55th national badminton championships:

Karunaratne brothers Niluka and Diluka will fight out for the senior national singles badminton championship today at the Royal College Sports Complex.

Niluka defeated Eranga Fernando in the semi-final to qualify for the final while his brother Diluka overcame Dinuka Karunaratne to make his passage to the final yesterday. Both finalists had comfortable straight set victories.

In the womens semi-finals Chandrika de Silva defeated Lekha Shehani 2-0 while Thilini Jayasinghe beat K. Ishadika also with the same margin. These two are expected to produce the best shuttling today to clinch the national championship.

Chandrika partnered with Thilini will face Upuli Samanthika and Achini Samantha in the women’s doubles final today. They registered good wins in the semis to enter final.

Diluka Karunaratne / Chandrika de Silva pair went down in the mixed doubles to Hasitha Chanaka and Thilini Jayasinghe. The winners in this first semi-final will meet Niluka and Shehani who defeated R. S. Dahanayake and Achini Ratnasiri after a stiff competition 2-1.

The finals are scheduled to commence at 5 p.m. with General Manager of Bank of Ceylon B. A. C. Fernando as chief guest.

Results:

Men’s singles (semi finals): Niluka Karunaratne beat Eranga Fernando 21/18, 21/9. Diluka Karunaratne beat Dinuka Karunaratne 21/9, 21/14.

Women’s singles (semi finals): Chandrika de Silva beat Lekha Shehani 21/3, 21/11. Thilini Jayasinghe beat K. Ishadika 21/10, 21/14.

Women’s doubles (semi finals): Chandrika de Silva / Thilini Jayasinghe beat Nadeeka Nilimini / Tharaka Abeywickrama 21/9, 21/8. Upuli Samanthika / Achini Ratnasiri beat Nadeesha Gayanthi / Rasangi Kalpana 21/15, 21/17.

Mixed doubles (semi finals): Hasitha Chanaka / Thilini Jayasinghe beat Diluka Karunaratne / Chandrika de Silva 21/17, 21/14. Niluka Karunaratne / Lekha Shehani beat R. S. Dahanayake / Achini Ratnasiri 18/21, 21/15, 21/18. - (BP)