Top shuttlers enter quarters in Badminton Nationals

Jiffrey Abdeen-Kandy Sports Corr.

The quarter-final stage of the 62nd Badminton Nationals organized by the Sri Lanka Badminton Association now being worked off at the Indoor Stadium of Jayatilleke Sports Complex, Nawalapitiya.

Yeterday was the fifth day and the finals will be worked off on Sunday.

All top players - like Niluka Karuanratne, Dinuka Karunaratne, Achini Ratnasiri, Lekha Shehani and Dhammika de Silva won the Singles events in the quarter-finals.

The finals will be played at 2.30pm today.

Men's Singles: Defending Champions Niluka Karuanratne beat Diluka Karunaratne 21-19, 21-16. L Weerasinghe beat Kamod Helanga 21-9, 21-12. Bhuvaneka Gunatilleke beat Harsha Perera 21-17, 21-13. Dinuka Karunaratne beat Imesh Hasaranga 21-5, 21-13.

Women's Singles:

Achini Ratnasiri beat Thilini Jayasinghe 21-10, 21-10. Defending champion Lekha Shehani beat Nayanathara Thishani 21-13, 23-21. Former champion Chandrika de Silva beat Madushika Dilrukshi 21-14, 21-11. Thilini Hendahewa beat Kavishka Silva 21-11, 21-12.

Men's Doubles:

Rajitha Dahanayake/Hasitha Chanaka beat Dinesh Maduranga/Harsha Perera 21-19, 21-15. Clarence Homer/Upendra Jayawardene beat Mahen Anjala/Dakshitha Gunatilleke 21-14, 21-10. Lahiru Madushan/Oshadi Madusanka beat Maneesha Maduranga/S Maduranga 21-10, 21-10.

Women's Doubles:

Achini Ratnasiri/Upuli Weerasinghe beat Thilini Hendahewa/Lekha Shehani 21-19, 21-10. Kavindi Ishadi/Oshadi Kuruppu beat Chandrika de Silva/Madusha Dilrukshi 21-13, 16-21, 21-10.

Gayathri Herath/Thilini Jayasinghe beat Dinushi Dayaratne/Kavindi de Silva 21-14, 21-15.

Mixed Doubles semi-finals:

Achini Ratnasiri/Rajitha Dahanayake beat Hasitha Chanaka/Kavindi Ishadi 21-15, 21-18. Niluka Karunaratne/Nadeeshani Gayathri beat Roshan Kumara/Ruwini Ratnasiri 21-9, 21-7.