Sports
Viren upsets Sachin, Karunaratne brothers reach quarter-finals
Badminton Nationals 2020
by Reemus Fernando
All three Karunaratne brothers, Olympian and many time national champion Niluka, Test cricketer Chamika and former champion Dinuka reached the quarter-finals as some top ranked players were eliminated in the fourth round of the men’s singles as the Badminton Nationals 2020 continued in Colombo on Friday.
Chamika, who is making a return to badminton from cricket beat number one seed Lochana de Silva 21-11, 21-16 to secure a quarter-final berth against last year finalist Ranthushka Karunathilake.
Karunathilake, the runners-up of the last edition, overcame a first set defeat to oust Chirath Illeperumachchi. Chamika and Ranthushka were set to compete in the quarter-finals late in the evening yesterday.
Niluka, who is seeking qualification to compete in the Tokyo Olympics scored straight set wins against Siyath Senaratne.
Sachin Dias and Buwaneka Goonatilleka were probably the biggest casualties in the morning session as they were eliminated by Viren Nettasinghe and former champion Dinuka Karunaratne respectively.
Nettasinghe and Dias were tied 1-1 when they entered the decisive third set. The latter sustained an injury and was forced to retire. Nettasinghe was set to meet Dumindu Abeywickrama in the quarter-finals.
Dinuka had a scare in the first set losing narrowly to Goonatilleka but came back fighting to oust him 21-23, 21-10, 21-10.
Rasindu Hendahewa, Lahiru Weerasinghe and Dumindu Abeywickrama were the others to record wins to complete the quarter-final line up.
Meanwhile in the women’s singles Ashini Fernando turned tables on defending champion Dilmi Dias as she scored 21-15, 21-19 to advance to quarter-finals. Fernando was scheduled to meet Thiyana Vidanarachchi. Evergreen shuttler Chandrika de Silva was set to meet Hasini Ambalangoda in the evening, Sasini Hansamali, Hasara Wijayarathne, Nadeesha Gayanthi and Madushika Dilrukshi were the other quarter-finalists.