Lankan shuttlers for Thomas and Uber Cup tourneys

Dilanka Mannakkara

Top shuttlers including Niluka Karunarathne, Dinuka Karunarathne, Thilini Jayasinghe will represent Sri Lanka in the all important Thomas and Uber Cups which would be worked off from February 22 to 28 in Bangkok, Thailand. Asia’s best shuttlers would be seen in action throughout the six days as they would vie for a place in the Thomas and Uber Cup.

Sri Lanka would be participating in the Preliminary Championship of the Asia Zone of which only four teams would be selected for the Thomas and Uber Cup World Championships.

According to Professor Ranjit de Silva, Chairman SLBA, the team would be playing matches from 22nd to 25th.

The men’s team would be participating in the Thomas Cup and the Women’s team would battle it out in the Uber Cup. Professor de Silva also mentioned that Sri Lanka would face tough competition from Asian giants Indonesia, Japan and India but the exposure and experience that would be gained by participating in this high profile tournament would be immense.

The full squad is as follows:

Men’s squad – Niluka Karunarathne, Dinuka Karunarathne, Hasith Chanaka, R.S. Dahanayake.

Women’s squad – Thilini Jayasinghe, Achini Ratnasiri, Lekha Shehani, Upuli Samanthika.

Out of the eight shuttlers only Niluka and Dinuka have participated in the Thomas Cup while Thilini Jayasinghe is the only girl who has had previous experience in this tournament

The team would be managed by Vinitha Perera who will also function as the Lady Chaperon. Danusha Fernando will act as the coach.