Mercantile Badminton Championships:

Thilini Jayasinghe completes triple crown

by Sajeewa Jayakody

Veteran Sri Lanka shuttler Thilini Jayasinghe made her employer Sampath Bank proud by completing a triple crown at the recent Mercantile Badminton Championships worked off at S. Thomas’s College Indoor Sports Complex, Mt. Lavinia. But Thilini’s lone effort could not prevent Hatton National Bank winning the overall title while Sampath Bank settled for the runners up title.

Double Olympian and former national women’s singles champion Jayasinghe said she is happy to regain her brilliant best and improve her rankings. The 28-year-old lass won women’s singles crown beating veteran Chandrika de Silva of Hatton National Bank in the final. It was the fifth consecutive time that Jayasinghe beat De Silva since London Olympic Games last year.

“I knew that I have regained my form and was 200% confident of winning the singles title. I am happy that I could still bounce back and win the triple crown,” said Jayasinghe.

In the women’s doubles, she partnered her colleague Shehani Ranjala to win her second title at this year’s championship. In the mixed doubles, Jayasinghe and Hasitha Chanaka teamed up to outplay a powerful attack launched by McLarens who defeated strong Dinuka Karunaratne-Nadeesha Gayanthi combination in the semi-final.

The 30th Mercantile Championship saw top class shuttlers of the calibre of Niluka Karunaratne, Dinuka Karunaratne, Nadeesha Gayanthi, Chandrika de Silva, Hasitha Chanaka and Amali Amarasinghe in action.

Jayasinghe, the first and the only Sri Lankan woman shuttler to compete in the history of Olympic Games, said it is good to be back in form after being off court for almost one year. She is the most celebrated Sri Lankan woman shuttler at international level, competing in two successive Olympic Games in Beijing 2008 and London 2012.

“Even after missing the grip of a racquet for such a long time due to personal commitments. I am truly happy to be back on the track. I am the number-two woman shuttler in Sri Lanka as of now.

On my return, I was adjudged the best shuttler at the National Sports Festival Badminton Tournament and I was able to secure a final berth in the singles, doubles and the mixed doubles of the Ariyadasa Silva Memorial Trophy Badminton Championships,” she said.

“I won the singles runner up, doubles champion and mixed doubles runner up title at that event. I defeated the then national champion Thilini Pramodika in the quarter finals and Kavindi Ishadika in the semi finals.”

“Unfortunately, I went out of the Badminton Nationals after reaching the semi-finals. All this was achieved after being out of the courts for almost a year,” she said.

Jayasinghe paid a glowing tribute to Rohitha Abeykoon for helping her partner with Li Ning, a world renowned brand for sports gear and sports ware, of which I am a brand ambassador.

“I am grateful to Sports Minister Mahindananda Aluthgamage for taking the correct decisions when it mattered the most. I am ever thankful to my employer Sampath Bank for the support its management has given to promote sports.

Its Managing Director Aravinda Perera, Head of Marketing Tharaka Ranwala, Head of HR Aruna Jayasekara and the officials of Sampath Bank Sports Club have always been a tower of strength to my badminton career. My parents, my brother and Nalaka have been backing me during difficult periods.

Meanwhile, Sri Lanka’s overall captain for the London 2012 Games, Niluka Karunaratne bagged the men’s single title and his effort enabled McLarans) to secure the third place. Niluka upstaged his brother Dinuka Karunaratne of Hatton National Bank by two sets to nil to win in yet another singles title.

Jayasinghe combined with Shehani Ranjala to crash the party of Ruvani Ratnasiri and Amali Amarasinghe of McLarans and recorded a three-sets win 24-26, 21-15, 21-14 to grab Women’s Open Doubles Trophy in the 48-member association of the Lankan Mercantile sector.

McLarans’ Niluka Karunaratne and his partner Lakshan Silva who suffered a shock defeat at the hands of Dinuka Karunaratne and Thisara Nimmika of Hatton National Bank with a three-sets win after a sensational game creating an upset in the Sri Lanka’s famed shuttle tournament, which involved around 450 players this year.

Finals results:

Men’s Open Singles: Niluka Karunaratne (McLerance) beat Dinuka Karunaratne (Hatton National Bank) 21-15, 21-15.

Men’s Open Doubles: Dinuka Karunaratne/Lakshan Silva (Hatton National Bank) beat Niluka Karunaratne/Thisara Nimmika (McLerance) 21-16, 18-21, 21-15.

Women’s Open Singles: Thilini Jayasinghe (Sampath Bank) beat Chandrika de Silva 21-18, 11-21, 21-11.

Women’s Open Doubles: Thilini Jayasinghe/Shehani Ranjala (Sampath Bank) beat Ravani Ratnasiri/Amali Amarasinghe (McLerance) 24-26, 21-15, 21-14.

Mixed Doubles: Hasitha Chanaka/Thilini Jayasinghe (Sampath Bank) beat Udara Nayanajith/Ruvani Ratnasiri (McLerance) 21-12, 21-15.