Ranthushka, Nadeesha clinch singles crowns at MBA Open

Ranthushka Karunathilaka and Nadeesha Gayanthi clinched the men’s and women’s open singles titles at the Mercantile Badminton Association (MBA) Open Badminton Championships which concluded at the Sugathadasa Indoor Stadium in Colombo.The Sri Lanka Badminton Association (SLBA) Level 1 ranking tournament, jointly organised by the MBA and SLBA for the first time, saw the podium winners bagging cash awards worth Rupees one million in addition to gifts worth over Rupees two million.

Ranthushka, seeded third, beat Lahiru Weerasinghe 21-14, 21-7 in the open men’s final to clinch the title while Nadeesha saw off Jananuwani Amanda 21-19, 21-15 to secure the women’s singles title.

Hasitha Chanaka and Sachin Dias defeated Lochana de Silva and Resintha de Silva 20-22, 21-15, 21-8 to win the men’s doubles title. Top seeded Thilini Hendahewa and Kavidi Sirimanna won the women’s doubles final following a convincing 21-11, 21-6 win over Madushika Dilrukshi and Buthmi Galagamage.

Sachin Dias and Thilini Hendahewa clinched the mixed doubles title when they defeated Dinuru Rashmika and Madushika Dilrukshi 21-11, 21-7 in the final.

The tournament saw events being conducted under 66 categories, including age group events from under 13 and above.

All events contributed towards the national rankings and were based on SLBA rankings published on the official web portal of the badminton governing body. Li Ning shuttlecocks, the official partner of the event, were used during the tournament.

The championship worked out on a knock-out basis and all matches were played according to the rules and regulations approved by the BWF and as adopted by SLBA.

The awards ceremony was held on the Friday with the participation of SLBA President Rohan de Silva, a number of SLBA officials, past MBA officials and representatives of sponsors.