Sri Lankan shuttlers beat Iceland

Yasaratna GAMAGE

Sri Lankan shuttlers gave another fine display in the Sudirman Cup by beating Iceland by 3-2 in China yesterday. Sri Lankan won the mixed doubles, men’s singles and men’s doubles but lost the women’s singles and doubles.

Dinuka Karunaratne and Upuli Samanthika continued their winning style by defeating Magnus Ingi Helgason and Tnna Helgadottir in a three setter. The game swung Iceland’s way when the Iceland pair won the second set but Dinuka and Upuli had no difficulty to finish the third set by 21-8.

Niluka Karunaratne beat Atli Johannesson in the men’s singles comprehensively by 21-17 and 21-16.

Niluka and Dinuka Karunaratne had to fight for 36 minutes in a three setter game to win the men’s doubles against Magnus Ingi and Helgi Johannesson by 21-19, 13-21 and 21-17.

The women’s singles and doubles had the same pattern where Sri Lankans competed well in the first set but seemed lethargic in the second set.

Achini Ratnasiri lost to Ragna Bjorg by 15-21 and 6-21 while the doubles with Upuli had the same result and Ragna Bjorg and Tinna Helgadottir won the game by 21-17 and 21-7.

Lanka are now on top of level four, group four table with three points while Philippines and Iceland are in second and third place with two and one points respectively.

Event results

Mixed doubles

Dinuka Karunaratne and Upuli Samanthika beat Magnus Ingi and Tinna

Helgadottir ( 21-10,12-21,21-8)

Men’s singles

Niluka Karunaratne beat Atli Johannesson ( 21-17, 21-16)

Women’s single

Ragna Bjorg beat Achini Ratnasiri (21-15,21-6)

Men’s doubles

Niluka Karunaratne and Dinuka Karunaratne beat Magnus Ingi and Helgi

Johannesson ( 21-19,13-21,21-17)

Women’s doubles

Ragna Bjorg and Tinna Helgadottir beat Achini Ratnasiri and Upuli Samanthika

(21-17, 21-7).