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| Sunday, 15 May 2005 |
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Sri Lanka gains promotion to group V after winning group VI by Lal Gunesekera Sri Lanka won group VI of the Sudirman Cup World Badminton Championship in China last week and have now qualified to play in group V next year. The Sri Lankans (three men and three women) led by Niluka Karunaratne returned to the island on Thursday night after the completion of their matches. A spokesman for the Sri Lanka Badminton Association (SLBA) told the Sunday Observer that Sri Lanka beat Bulgaria 5-0 and Jamaica 4-1 with only the mixed doubles pair of Thushara Edirisinghe and Chandrika de Silva losing in their tie with Jamaica. The team led by Karunaratne also included Duminda Jayakoddy, Thushara Edirisinghe, Chandrika de Silva, Thilini Jayasinghe and Rasangi Kalpana Ranatunga. Sri Lanka are now scheduled to compete at the Asian Junior (under-19) Championship at Indonesia in July and Asian Championship at Hyderabad, India in September. There will be six boys and six girls for Indonesia, while the SLBA have not yet decided on the composition of the team to India. Niluka Karunaratne, attended a two-month session at the International Badminton Federation (IBF) World Training Centre in Germany with Thilini Jayasinghe (both reigning national champions). Now, this centre has extended all facilities for Karunaratne to continue his training upto 2008. The SLBA have also requested the Centre for two Juniors (Diluka Karunaratne from Royal and Sulochana Ariyadasa of Visakha) to attend a two-month course, and awaiting a reply. Meanwhile, Niluka Karunaratne, is scheduled to play in two tournaments in Australia and New Zealand next month (June) from where he will go to Germany and then compete in the European Circuit. |
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