Niluka clinches a triple crown

Yasaratne Gamage

Niluka Karunaratne, the defending national badminton champion for a decade, grabbed a triple crown, when he won all three events - mixed doubles with Kavidi Ishadika, men's doubles partnered by Dinuka Karunaratne and men's singles by beating his brother Dinuka- at the 59th National Badminton Championship concluded at Royal College Sports Complex yesterday.

Achini Ratnasiri, who won women's singles and women's doubles (with Upuli Samanthika), bagged a double.

It was a family affair in men's singles, where the Karunaratne duo, Niluka and his younger brother Dinuka contested in which the latter lost to the defending champion by 2-0 and let his brother to take the National Championship Trophy for the 10th consecutive year to keep it next to the runners-up trophy on the shelf back at home.

The Karunaratne duo defeated R S Dahanayaka and Hasitha Chanaka in the men's doubles finals by 2-0 and in the mixed doubles he partnered Kavidi Ishadika to overcome Nuwan Hettiarachchi in a two setter.

Perhaps the thriller of the day was the battle between the two time defending champion Achini Ratnasiri and emerging shuttler Thilini Pramodika Handihewa where the latter challenged Achini by winning the second set after having lost the first set by 12-21.

They both gave the much awaited fans a fantastic game of badminton in which the winner was hardly decided until the last second. After losing the first set Thilini dominated the second set and the defending champion seemed a bit lethargic.

However Achini came back into the game towards the end of the third set to surprise her opponent who was leading. Achini Ratnasiri left the court in a delightful mood by bagging a double crown.

In the women's doubles Achini Ratnasiri and Upuli Samanthika, a perfect pair in Sri Lankan badminton women's doubles extended their domination in the event by walking away with the trophy for the third time.

The award ceremony was held after the event at the same venue in the presence of Sports Ministry Secretary, Udaya Seneviratne who was the chief guest and Sports Director General Ranjani Jayakody who was the guest of honour.

The results:

Men's singles: Niluka Karunaratne beat Dinuka Karunaratne (21-16, 21,19).

Men's doubles: Niluka and Dinuka Karunaratne beat Hasitha Chanaka and R S Dahanayake (21-12, 21-18).

Women's singles: Achini Ratnasiri beat Thilini Pramodika Handihewa (21-8, 20-22, 21-19).

Women's doubles: Achini Ratnasiri and Upuli Samanthika beat Susmitha and Chandrika de Silva (21-17, 21-16).

Mixed doubles: Niluka Karunaratne and Kavindi Ishadika beat Nuwan Hettiarachchi and Achini Ratnasiri (21-19, 21-14).