Shuttle queen

Anushka Withanage

She is the badminton queen of Sri Lanka. Chandrika de Silva’s dominance of the local badminton scenario has spanned a period of 27 years.

At 35 years of age, this lass, an ex-student of Swarnapali Balika Vidyalaya, Anuradhapura, Chandrika has reigned high by any stretch of imagination; quite a period in which she has spread her superiority in court craft with some dexterity in winning all major national tournaments.

Certainly, a tall story that this rural product can boast of who came to the city metropolis saw and captured.Chandrika’s contribution to the sport in the country is such that in a sense she has made herself indispensable; of course, by her ability of staying at the top.

Looking at her performances at international level is quite refreshing. Some of her major events abroad have been competing in 11 tournaments.

Chandrika’s best moment she says was in 2005 when she brought honour and glory to Sri Lanka by winning a triple crown at the Nepal Asian Satellite Badminton Championships conducted at Kathmandu, Nepal.

Triple crown

In fact, this is the first time in the history of Sri Lanka’s badminton that a Sri Lankan won a triple crown at an international tournament. Chandrika de Silva won the women’s singles, doubles and the mixed doubles events at this championship.

Sri Lankan coach Kamal Gamlath, who is also Chandrika’s coach, recalls that she had led the game and used her experience to win the matches. Gamlath also said that her triple crown triumph was the best achievement in this tournament.

Some of her international achievements are:

International Challenge Open Tournament, Pakistan: Runner up -women’s doubles and mixed doubles; international Open Tournament, Iran : Runner-up Singles and doubles; International Satellite Open Championships, Jordan: Singles - bronze, doubles - gold, mixed doubles - gold; Syrian International Satellite Open Championships, Syria: singles - bronze; doubles - gold.

2006 SAF Games: Women’s team silver medal, singles - bronze; doubles - bronze, mixed doubles - bronze; Commonwealth Games, Australia: Team event - reached quarter final; 2005 Asian Satellite Open Championships., Nepal: Singles - gold; mixed doubles - gold.