Dilmi Dias impresses with a triple shuttle crown at Nationals
View(s):Dilmi Dias stole the show with a triple crown while ace shuttler Niluka Karunaratne and Lochana de Silva claimed a double each at the combined 67th Badminton Nationals and 37th Junior Nationals which concluded at the Sugathadasa Indoor Stadium in Colombo yesterday.
Emerging star shuttler, Dias, won the important titles of Women’s Singles from the 67th Nationals and claimed the Girls Under-19 Singles and Girls Under-19 Doubles partnering with Anurangi Maskorale. She beat star player Achini Ratnasiri 2-1 in the Women’s Singles final after easily winning her remaining two titles in the Girls Under-19 category.
Niluka Karunaratne overcame Ranthushka Karunathilaka 2-0 in the Men’s Singles final, after partnering his brother Dinuka to claim the Men’s Doubles title, beating Lochana de Silva and Thulith Palliyaguru.
Lochana de Silva, who appeared in three finals, emerged victorious in two. He was able to claim the titles of Boys Under-19 Singles and Boys Under-19 Doubles with his Men’s Doubles partner, Palliyaguru.
Karunathilaka, who lost the Men’s Singles final, earlier won the Boys Singles Under-23 title, beating Madhuka Dulanjana 2-1. Achini Ratnasiri and Upuli Weerasinghe paired up to beat Tisuni Midara and Senuji Umagiliyage in the Women’s Doubles final.
Sachin Dias paired with veteran Chandrika de Silva to beat Hasitha Chanaka and Upuli Weerasinghe 2-1 to claim the Mixed Doubles title.
In the Veterans segment Rohan Fernando, Louie Karunaratne, Sunil Jayasiri and Rohan de Silva impressed by appearing in two finals each.