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| Sunday, 13 February 2005 |
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Niluka and Thilini to undergo coaching in Germany by Lal Gunesekera Sri Lanka's reigning national men's and women's badminton champions, Niluka Karunaratne and Thilini Jayasinghe, are to attend a two-month training programme in Germany from March 6 to May 7. This is an International Badminton Federation (IBF) conducted programme and out of the 150 odd affiliates of the IBF, two shuttlers from each country were picked with Karunaratne and Jayasinghe being among the "first lot". A spokesman for the Sri Lanka Badminton Association (SLBA) told the Sunday Observer that Karunaratne will first travel to England for an one-week training programme at his own expense on February 21 before arriving in Germany where he is also to play in the Yonex German Open Championship at Mulhtim from February 28 to March 5. This is a "three star" event of the IBF. Karunaratne is scheduled to play in 13 international tournaments this year (2005) in an attempt to improve on his world rankings. There are three events in New Zealand (two in Auckland and one in Christchurch), two in Australia (Sydney and Melbourne), one in France, Scottish Open, Irish Open, All-England Championship and then the Indian and Vietnam Satellites. He may also attend another training programme for three months later this year in another Malaysia or South Korea or even the Prakash Padukone Academy in India. Karunaratne had attend similar programmes in Malaysia and India earlier. Two other Karunaratne brothers - Diluka (18) and Dinuka (17) who are ranked No. 2 and No. 4 respectively, also left for England last Friday (February 11) for a three-month training programme and will also figure in three tournaments. This has been privately arranged with the blessings of the SLBA. The SLBA are also scheduled to send the country's best available shuttlers for the World Team Championship (Sudarman Cup) in Beijing, China from May 10 to 15 as well as for the Asian Championship in July for which the venue has yet to be finalised. |
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