Yonex Sunrise International Badminton Challenge:

Dinuka goes down fighting in the semi-final

by Sajeewa Jayakody

Sri Lanka's Dinuka Karunaratne went down fighting to second seeded Anand Pawar of India in the second semi-final of the men's singles at the Yonex International Badminton Challenge workd off at Sugathadasa Indoor Stadium, Colombo yesterday.

Karunaratne, the only host country player, who advanced to top four , was edged out 2-1 in a closely contested three-setter before a capacity local crowd last night.

Dinuka lost the first set 12-21 to Pawar the second seeded shuttler in the 17-nation tournament. Karunaratne bounced back with a fine display winning the set 21-15. Lankan shuttler who turned in a gallant display lost the third set 11-21 as the Indian reached final to meet Korea's Hyun II Lee today.

In the men's first semi-final, top seeded Prannoy Kumar, who ousted Niluka Karuanatne on Friday, was beaten by Korea's Hyun II Lee in a three-setter.

Unseeded Lee took the first set 21-10. But Kumar strong back to grab the second set 21-16. Korean shuttler won the crucial third set by 21-13 to storm into the finals.

In the first semi-final of the women's singles, India's PC Thulasi defeated Supanida Katethong of Thailand 2-0. Sixth ranked Chandrika Thulasi won the first set convincinly by 21-13. The 65th world rank shuttler stormed to the finals to be played today with a 21-8 win in the third set.

In the second semi-final of the women's singles, Singapore's Jiayuna Chen beat Chia Hsin Lee 2-1. Fourth seed Chen had a 21-14 win in the first set and finished with a exciting 21-18 win in the second crashing out eigth seeded Lee in a match lasted in 35 minutes.

Karunaratne had to counter India's Aditya Prakash in the quarter-final match, which lasted 55 minutes in the morning session. Sri Lanka's only hope in the competition, won the match 2-1. Dinuka was defeated by a huge 13-21 margin in the first set. But the 16th ranked player in the competition, clinched the second set 21-15 giving some hopes to the local spectators. He dominated against formidable Indian shuttler taking last two sets 21-15 and scored a thrilling 21-18 win in the third set.

Indian players stormed into both men's singles semi-finals which were scheduled to be played in the evening session. Tournament top seeded Prannoy Kumar, the 2012 Summer Youth Olympic Silver medallist, who eliminated Sri Lanka's Niluka Karunaratne in the pre quarter final, which was played on Friday.