60th Badminton Nationals:

Niluka,Thilini bag national titles

Anuradha ABEYSEKERA

Olympian shuttler Niluka Karunaratne bagged the National badminton title for the 11th time while emerging Visakhian star player Thilini Promodika won her debut national crown when the 60th Badminton Nationals concluded in grand style at the Royal College Indoor Sports Complex, Colombo yesterday.

Niluka beat his own brother Dinuka Karunaratne in straight sets in the men's single final 2-0 (21/15, 22/20) while Thilini, in the same fashion defeated Lekha Shehani of SL Air Force in the women's single final 2-0 (21/11, 21/14).

17-year lass from Visakha Vidyalaya has shown a great improvement in her career and maintained a superb record during this year's tournament.

Thilini has reached national final in the previous year as well but had to satisfied with the runner-up position as she went down to Achini Rathnasiri in the 59th Badminton National finals. Reigning women's champion Achini did not take part in this year's championship due an injury.

Niluka qualified for the final by beating Lasitha Menaka 2-0 (21/13, 21/16) in first semi-final while Dinuka trounced Lakshitha Maduwage 2-0 (21/16, 21/17) in the other semi-final.

In the women's category, Thilini booked her final berth by beating Kavindi Ishadika, 2-0 (21/14, 21/17) in the semi-final and Lekha defeated Sushmitha Illangakoon, 2-0 (21/16, 21/17) in the other semi-final. The most prominent local senior tournament of country's badminton fraternity experienced a decline of number of entries comparing to previous year this time but included nearly 150 shuttlers in all categories.

Results of finals

Men's singles - Niluka Karunaratne beat Dinuka Karunaratne, 2-0 (21/15, 22/20)

Women's singles - Thilini Promodika beat Lekha Shehani, 2-0 (21/11, 21/14)

Men's doubles - Niluka Karunaratne and Dinuka Karunaratne beat Hasitha Chanaka with Eranga Chanaka, 2-0 ( 21/19, 21/18)

Women's doubles - Kavindi Ishadika and Oshdhi Kuruppu beat Chandrika de Silva and Sushmitha Illangakoon ( 21/14, 21/14)

Mixed doubles - Niluka Karunaratne and Thilini Promodika beat Lasitha Menaka with Chandrika de Silva, 2-0 ( 22/20, 20/18)

Men's singles (Plate) - Anusha Nirmal beat Anjana Madhushanka 2-1

Women's singles (Plate) - K H K Nilukshi beat Kanishka Madhushani 2-1

Over 55 men's singles - W M Ariyasena beat A M Wimalarathna 2-0

Over 55 women's singles - W P Punchihewa beat Thushani Ruhunuarachchi 2-0

Over 55 men's doubles - Athula Wijerathna and H Hamdeen beat W M Ariyasena with Gamini Jayawardane 2-0

Over 50 men's singles - Luvi Karunaratne beat Parakrama Basnayaka 2-0

Over 50 men's doubles - L.Nanayakkara and S.Thavaraja beat Luvi karunaratne with Rohan de Silva 2-1

Over 40 men's singles - Clarance Homer beat Sanka Illeperuma 2-0

Over 40 men's doubles - Duminda Senanayaka and Duminda Jayakody beat Niroshan Wijekoon and Darshana Senaratne 2-0

Over 35 women's doubles - Thushani Ruhunuarachchi and Niluka Udugama beat W P Punchihewa and Samanthi Navarathne 2-0