Top Shuttlers vie at 72nd Badminton Nationals

A grand prize money of Rs.2 million rupees for all events will be on offer at the 72nd National Badminton Championships which is scheduled to be held from December 1 to 8 in Colombo. Apart from the cash awards trophies, medals and certificates also will receive winners, runners up and semi finalists of the each event. Junior winners also will receive gifts instead of prize money.

Entries are now being accepted for this National championship which will be played at three key venues, at the Mercantile Badminton Association (MBA) Indoor Courts, the Otter Aquatic Club Courts and at the SLB Indoor Courts at Maitland Place.

This is the main event of the domestic calender conducted by Sri Lanka Badminton with an expected list of over 1000 shuttlers, who will compete under different categories thought out the eight days. All the top ranking shuttlers are expected to take part this event while juniors also have good platform to showcase their talent.

The championships will feature a wide range of events from Under-11 to Under-19 in the Junior category and Over-30 to Over-70 in the Senior category. However, the Open events comprising Men’s and Women’s Singles, Doubles and Mixed Doubles, will take centre stage. The opening ceremony will take place on December 1, and will be followed by the preliminary rounds, leading up to the Round of 16 and quarter-finals on December 6.

In the 71st National Championship Buwaneka Gunatilleka won the men’s single and also finished the tournament with triple crown while 17-year-old Ranithma Liyanage won the women’s singles title. This time once again Buwaneka Gunatilleka,Viren Nettasinghe the Sri Lankan Olympian for last Paris Olympics, Dumindu Abeywickrama, Rasindu Hendahewa and Ranithma Liyanage are expected to take part this event as key shuttlers.

The excitement will continue on December 7, with the highly anticipated semi-finals and additional quarter-final matches. The grand finale is set for December 8, where all the finals will be held.

The main draw seeding will be determined based on SLB Ranking as of November 22, followed by the draw on November 24, at No.2, Cambridge Terrace, Colombo 7. Entries will close on November 19 noon.

Entries can be submitted online or by contacting Sadeesha Adithya on 0761759017 or Akila Hettiarachchi on 0771851839. All details of the 72nd Badminton Nationals are available in the prospectus published in the SLB website.

Source:Daily News