Nettasinghe settles for silver after remarkable run to final

XPORA Indonesia International Challenge

The top Sri Lankan badminton player Viren Nettasinghe settled for the silver medal of the XPORA Indonesia International Challenge 2023 after displaying remarkable resilience and determination to reach the men’s singles final in Indonesia.

Organized by the Badminton Association of Indonesia under the supervision of the Badminton World Federation (BWF), the tournament, held in Medan, Indonesia, brought together some of the top talents in the sport.

In a captivating final match, Viren Nettasinghe, who was seeded sixth in the competition, faced off against the formidable Indonesian shuttler Alwi Farhan. Nettasinghe fought hard but ultimately settled for a score line of 15-21, 10-21.

His journey to the final was described as nothing short of spectacular by the Sri Lanka Badminton officials.

The road to the final saw Nettasinghe delivering stellar performances, including a thrilling semi-final victory over Indonesia’s Krishna Adi Nugraha. Nettasinghe mounted an incredible comeback after losing the first set 17-21. He displayed his resilience and prowess by dominating the next two sets 21-7, 21-15to secure a hard-fought win.

In the quarter-finals, Nettasinghe defeated Malaysia’s Shahyar Shaqeem with a commanding performance, securing a convincing 21-6, 21-15 victory.

In earlier rounds, Nettasinghe had triumphed over competitors from Hong Kong, Indonesia, and England. Notable victories include a Round of 16 win against Hong Kong’s Jason Gunawan, seeded 16th (21-16, 22-20), and a Round of 32 victory against Indonesia’s Alvi Wijaya Chairullah ( 21-18, 21-9).

Nettasinghe’s journey began with a thrilling first-round encounter against England’s qualifier Larry Pong, whom he overcame 2-1 (21-15, 16-21, 21-11).

While Nettasinghe’s remarkable journey ended in the final with a silver medal, his performance throughout the XPORA Indonesia International Challenge 2023 has undoubtedly solidified his position as a force to be reckoned. His tenacity and skill have earned him recognition and admiration from fans and fellow athletes alike.

Meanwhile, Nettasinghe’s compatriot, Rasindu Hendahewa, faced a challenging start to the tournament and was defeated in the first round by India’s Alap Mishra with scores of 18-21, 16-21.