Lankan Shuttlers excel in Uganda

Diluka Karunaratne and Dinuka Karunaratne emereged mens double champions at the Uganda International Badminton Championships concluded at Kampala last Monday. This happens to be the first occasion that a Sri Lanakan shuttlers got opportunity to play in an Uganda tournament.

According to an senior official of the Badminton Association (SLBA) three Karunaratne brothers excelled at this tournament to bring honour for Sri Lanaka. Both Diluka and Dinuka performed well at men’s doubles event during the recently concluded International tournaments.

The elder of Niluka who is also the top ranked number one shuttler in Sri Lanka too reached the final at this tournament Niluka fought a hard battle against Lithuania’s number one player Kosketic before going down to him to finish at the runners up position.

Before reaching the final he did well to overcome two of the top ranked players. The three brothers will join the 9 member Sri Lanka team to compete at the Iran International Badminton Championships which is to be held from February 2 to 5 in Teheran.

Palitha Hettiarachchi the senior Vice President of the SLBA will accompanied the team to Uganda as coach cum manager. Sri Lanka Badminton team to Iran:

Women - Thilini Jayasinghe, Chandrika de Silva, Upuli Samanthika, Achini Ratnasiri, Chamika Madurawa

Men - Niluka Karunaratne, Diluka Karunaratne, Dinuka Karunaratne, R.S Dahanayake, Kasun Jayawardena, Hasitha Chanaka, Anushaka Lakshan, Palitha Hettiarachchi (manager cum coach)