SLB chief Rohan confident Dinuka will qualify for Tokyo Olympics
Sri Lanka Badminton (SLB) President, Rohan de Silva is confident that Dinuka Karunaratne will qualify for the 2020 Tokyo Olympic Games which begins on July 24.
“The main target of SLB is to qualify players for the Tokyo Olympics. He (Dinuka) is one of our best hopes and main contenders to qualify from badminton for the Tokyo Games. None of our girls have a chance of qualifying,” said the SLB chief.
Karunaratne is the younger brother Nikuka, an Olympian as well as a leading figure in local badminton.
“Dinuka has chances of qualifying by competing in another five or six tournaments. Depending on his performance in these competitions, if he breaks into the 100, he will gain direct qualification. If not badminton will have to depend on a wild card entry,” according to Rohan de Silva.
Sri Lanka’s leading badminton
star is currently ranked 124th in
the world.
“The SLB has also launched a three-year development plan. The main goal is the 2024 Olympics,” added de Silva.
He made these observations during a press conference to announce details of the Western Province Badminton Association (WPBA) which has organised the first Classic Level I (Platinum) ranking tournament from February 24 to March 1 at S. Thomas’ College, Mt. Lavinia Indoor Sports Complex and Mercantile Badminton Courts, Colombo.
The event is being conducted by Sri Lanka Badminton (SLB). This is the first Ranking Tournament for 2020. The event is second only to the Badminton Nationals. Applications close on February 15.
SLB President Rohan de Silva pins hopes on Dinuka Karunaratne (above) to realise Lanka's Olympic dreams
The organisers are expecting over 1,000 schools, clubs, national and international shuttlers to participate. There are 32 events from Under-13 singles to Masters Doubles. The draw will take place on February 20. Entries should be sent to Sri Lanka Badminton, Maitland Place, Colombo 7 or No. 2 Cambridge Place, Colombo 7.
The WPBA has also invited several South Asian countries to participate. They are expecting countries such as India, Nepal and Maldives to participate. Foreign participants will be provided free accommodation.
The senior winners will receive over Rs. 500,000. School players will receive sports equipment. The estimated cost of the tournament is rupees three million out of which one million has been promised by SLB president Rohan de Silva. The other two million has already been presented by several sponsors.
The details were announced by WPBA president Mohan Wijesinghe and Rohan de Silva, at a press conference held at the CR and FC auditorium.
Wijesinghe said that the WPBA conducts two main competitions annually. Apart from that, an Inter-Club Championship will be held in July and the Inter-Province Tournament is scheduled to be held in October.