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| Sunday, 8 February 2004 |
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Niluka now 155th in badminton Sri Lanka's reigning national champion, 19-year-old Niluka Karunaratne, is presently ranked 155th in the world by the International Badminton Federation (IBF) in their latest ranking list released. Karunaratne, who has won the Singles title for the past three years (2001, 2 and 3) is also the doubles champion (2002-3) and the country's most valuable asset, who was the first Lankan to reach the final of an international event in Europe - he lost in the Singles at the Welsh International. Karunaratne is being funded by the Sri Lanka badminton Foundation to the tune of Rs. 2 million this year and is scheduled to play in 14 International events of the IBF, including the Thailand Open last month (he lost in the first round to world ranked No. 31 from Hong Kong in a three set battle), Asian Badminton Confederation Championship in April, Thailand Satellite from May 1 to 6, Vietnam Satellite from June 9 to 13, Malaysian Open from June 29 to July 4, New Zealand Open from July 18 to 23 in Canterbury, Australian Open from July 25 to 30, Singapore Satellite from September 6 to 12, Pakistan satellite from November 1 to 6, Malaysian Satellite from November 23 to 29 and also the Wales and Scotland Open at the end of the year. Niluka's younger brother, Diluka (17), won the Men's Singles title (B. D. Ranasinghe was the runner-up) at the Belgium Open recently where Chandrika de Silva won the women's Singles title. Earlier, these three players were in England for 2 1/2 months playing for Northwood BC in various open tournaments in England. Meanwhile, Sri Lanka's team for the preliminaries of the Thomas Cup to be staged in Kuala Lumpur from February 17 to 21 leaves on February 15. The Singles will be played by Niluka Karunaratne, U. D. L. P. Kumara and N. J. Jehan, while the two Doubles combinations are Niluka Karunaratne and Chameera Kumarapperuma, Duminda Jayakody and Thushara Edirisinghe. The manager is Sumith Guruge. (L.G.) |
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