Three major upsets on second day of Badminton Nationals

BADMINTON: Three major upsets were recorded on the second day of the 55th National Championships of the Sri Lanka Badminton Association (SLBA) at the Royal College Sports Complex yesterday.

In the Women's Open Singles, the unseeded 13-year-old Ishadika of Linsday BMV beat seed No. 3 Sulochana Ariyadasa in a three setter (13-21, 21-17, 21-19, while Lekha Shehani (15 years) from Our Lady of Victories Convent, Moratuwa beat seed No 4 Subodha Dahanayake in straight sets (21-10, 21-19) to enter the semi-finals.

Then in the Men's Open Singles, fourth seeded Lasith Menaka lost to the unseeded Thilan Perera from Royal in a three setter (21-18, 7-21, 21-10) in the first-round, while the three Karunaratne brothers (Niluka, Diluka and Dinuka) won their respective matches to enter the quarter-finals.

Defending Women's Open Singles champion Chandrika de Silva the top seed and former champion Thilini Jayasinghe the bottom seed entered the semi-finals comfortably. The former will meet Lekha Shehani while the latter takes on Ishadika today (Sunday).

The finals are scheduled for tomorrow (Monday) from 5 p.m. onwards.

- L.G.