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Sports

Chandrika aims for triple
By M. Shamil Amit
There were no surprises at the 51st Badminton Nationals conducted by the Sri Lanka Badminton Association and sponsored by Commercial Bank which got under way at the Royal Sports Complex on Thursday with all the seeded players cruising through.
The top four players in both the men's and women's categories, 18-year-old Niluka Karunaratne, Thushara Edirisinghe, Chandrika de Silva and Thilini Jayasinghe have qualified to clash in the singles finals which is scheduled to be played from 3.00. p.m. onwards.

Three of these players Niluka, Chandrika and Thilini were in top form as the trio had gained immense experience having participated at the Asian Badminton Championship (ABC) which concluded in Indonesia last week. Niluka had the honour of being the only Sri Lankan to have reached the pre-quarter stage for which he received a cash award of US$ 800 presented by the organizers of the ABC.

Three finals were worked yesterday which was the women's doubles, mixed doubles and master's doubles. Chandrika de Silva has already bagged a double by winning the women's doubles partnered by Pameesha Dishanthi. In the mixed doubles partnered by Thushara Edirisinghe she looks set to bag the triple.

However Chandrika will face stiff opposition from 18-year-old schoolgirl from Mahamaya College, Kandy, Thilini Jayasinghe who played a wonderful game to enter the women's final. It will be a battle of experience and youth between these two. Both these players won the matches with ease.

In form Niluka is also on line to bag a double. He had no difficulty in overcoming his opponents in the quarter and semi finals. He has also qualified for the final of the doubles event, partnered by Chamara Kumar, the duo demolished the combination of P.G. Sylvester and S. Aponso. Minister of Youth Affairs and Sports Johnston Fernando will be the chief guest at the closing ceremony scheduled for 6.00. p.m.

Results:Singles:
Quarter Finals:
Men's: - Niluka Karunaratne beat Suresh de Silva 15/8, 15/4. Hashan de Silva beat A. Lakshan 15/9, 15/4. Thushara Edirisinghe beat Ravindra Herath 15/2, 15/6, Dinesh Ranasinghe w/o from Homer Clarence.

Women's: - Chandrika de Silva beat Surani Udeshika 11/1, 11/1. Pameesha Dishanthi beat Madusha Dissanayake 11/3, 11/4. Thilini Jayasinghe beat Rasangi Ranatunge 11/2, 11/9. Nadeesha Gayathri beat Amali Amarasinghe 11/9, 11/2.

Semi Finals -Men's: - Niluka Karanaratne beat Hashan de Silva 15/12, 15/8. Thushara Edirisinghe beat Dinesh Ranasinghe 15/5, 17/14. Women's: - Chandrika de Silva beat Pameesha Dishanthi 11/8, 11/7. Thilini Jayasinghe beat Nadeesha Gayathri 11/5, 11/7.

Doubles:
Semi Finals:
Men's: - Dinesh Ranasinghe and Udaya Wanasinghe beat Niroshan Weerakoon and Subash Janaka 13/15, 15/2, 15/11. Niluka Karunaratne and Chamara Kumar beat P.G. Sylvester and S. Aponso 15/5, 15/10.

Women's: - Amali Amarasinghe and Thilini Jayasinghe 15/9, 15/9.
Chandrika de Silva and Pameesha Dishanthi recieved a w/o.
Finals:Women's Doubles: - Chandrika de Silva and Pameesha Dishanthi beat Amali Amarasinghe 15/9, 15/3.

Mixed Doubles: - Thushara Edirisinghe and Chandrika de Silva beat Sameera Kumarapperuma and Pameesha Dishanthi 15/9, 7/15, 15/7.
Master's Doubles: - Brian Madawala and G.D. Perera beat Maj. Y. Chandratilleke and P.J. Block 15/9, 12/15, 15/9.

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