Ranitma into Round of 16 at World Junior Badminton C’ship

The 17-year-old National champion Ranitma Liyanage has qualified for the round of 16 in the women’s singles category of the World Junior Badminton Championship which is now in progress in Nanchen, China.

In fact this is great achievement as It was the first time a Sri Lankan player qualified for the last 16 of the World Junior Badminton Championship. In the last 16, she will take on China’s Xu Wenjin, one of Asia’s best young players, hoping to qualify for the quarter-finals.

Ranitma Liyanage the shuttler from Christ Church College Baddegama who competed with Vietnam’s Bich Pong Bui in the final round of 32 held yesterday, achieved a great victory with the score of 21-13, 12-21 and 21-16. Although Ranithma successfully faced the strong challenge from the Vietnamese player from the beginning and won the first round, the Vietnamese player, who entered the second round with a new game plan, won the second round by playing aggressively.

Then, at the beginning of the third round, the Vietnamese player who threatened Ranitma was able to take the lead by 11-4, but after the break, Ranitma overcame her weaknesses in an excellent style and won the match, putting the opponent under a lot of strain.

Ranitma Liyanage, who entered the second round after defeating India’s Venala Kolagotla 16-21, 21-12 and 21-15 in the first round of the women’s singles division of the World Junior Badminton Championship, had a great victory over American player Veronica Young with 21-14 and 21-16 where She joined the round of the last 32.

Sri Lanka junior Badminton team comprised seven boys and girls are taking part this tournament which attract world ranking leading junior badminton players.

Source:Daily News