WPBA revives badminton competition calendar with ranking tournament

Western Province Badminton Association (WPBA) will revive the badminton competition calendar by conducting their Open Ranking Championships 2021 from November 10-14 at the MBA (Mercantile) and OSC (Otters) Courts.

“The Open Ranking Tournament will be held respecting health protocols and making appropriate arrangements with access restricted to players and one guest only,” a statement from the WPBA said.

“The Covid 19 pandemic disrupted a carefully crafted 2021 competition schedule with most provincial associations unable to conduct their annual tournaments, the last being the Summer Season program at Nuwara Eliya last April. WPBA has been undeterred and responded to the Sri Lanka Badminton’s (SLB) call to organize a Ranking Tournament, as a precursor to the Nationals in December this year,” it further said.

SLT Mobitel has come forward to sponsor and provide the much-needed support to give a boost to this event which has drawn over 300 entries from all over the island. All Sri Lanka’s elite players are expected to participate and focus on their ranking having in mind the Nationals to be held in December.

Top ranked men’s star players, Buwaneka Gunetileke, Sachin Dias, Ranthushka Karunatilake, Rasindu Hendahewa, Viren Nettasighe and Dumindu Abeywickrama are back in the island after extensive tours. Kavidi Sirimanne, Dilmi Dias, Achini Fernando, Hasini Ambalangoda, Danithma Jayatileke and Ranithma Liyanage are the players to watch in the women’s elite category. Age Group matches are also bound to see some exciting contests. Only the Karunaratne brothers are away on tour and BWF top-rank Thilini Hendahewa is still recuperating from illness.

WPBA said that the competition will be live-streamed via the SLB websites and FB pages. SLT Chairman Rohan Fernando will be Chief Guest at the finals and at the Awards Ceremony on Sunday.