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Sri Lanka International Satellite Badminton Championships
FLAG FLUTTERS FOR LANKAN SHUTTLERS
By M. Shamil Amit
The Sri Lankans dominated the third day’s play of the Satellite International Badminton Championship in progress now at the Sugathadasa Indoor Stadium.The Lankans were successful in entering the two finals with the star among the Lankan players Thushara Edirisinghe being involved in both. The semi finals of all the events were worked off yesterday which began from 10.00 a.m.

Edirisinghe booked berths to the final in the men’s double which was played in the morning and then in the evening he was successful in advancing to the final of the mixed doubles. Edirisinghe partnered by Duminda Jayakody with both being the bottom seed had things their own way against the Malaysian pair of Cheah Like Hou and Chin Chun Jue overcoming the duo 2-1.

The Lankans took the first set 15-6 but the Malaysians fought back to win the second 15-12 but the Lankans came back to rattle their opponents by taking a commanding lead before winning 15-9. In the evening Edirisinghe partnered by Chandrika de Silva completely dominated play in the mixed doubles semi finals against Nepalese duo Balham Thapa and Pooja Shrestha crushing them 2-0 with the identical scores of 15-4.

Niluka Karunaratne and Thilini Jayasinghe who both bowed of the men’s and women’s singles category made amends by winning their mixed doubles semi final encounter. Earlier they created an upset by defeating Nepal’s Pashupathi Paneru and Sumina Shrestha who were seeded number two, when they defeated Malaysia’s Chin Chun Jue and Eater Ratn Dewi in straight sets. 15-8 and 15-13 to enter the final. It’s going to be a Sri Lankan final of the mixed doubles.

The day’s proceedings began with the women’s doubles with Sri Lankans Rasangi Ranatunge , Nadeesha Gayanthi, Chandrika de Silva and Thilini Jayasinghe locking horns with Monthila Meemek and Soratja Chansrisukot of Thailand and Trupti Murugande and B.R. Meenakshi of India, and the visitors overcame the challenge of the locals to fight out in the final.

In the other semi final of the men’s doubles Thailand’s Nattapon and Siwath Khoosakumthum beat India’s George Jose and Ajit Wijetilek to enter the final and will now meet the Sri Lanka’s Edirisinghe and Jayakody. India had a win and a loss in the men’s singles with number one seed Chetan Anand having his own way against Thailand’s Peerasak Wiriyaphadungphong 2-0 while Malaysia’s Yew Thien Law brushed aside the challenge of India’s Anand Pawer also by 2-0.

The women’s singles final is going to be an all Thailand affair with Monthila Meemak the top seed and the favorite to win the title crushing her Indian opponent B.R. Meenakshi in straight sets 11-3 and 11-5 while two Thailand players Sujitra Ekmongkolpasair and Soratja Chansrikot fought out in the other semi final which ended in a win for the former 11-5 and 11-0.

Today the championship will come to a close with the finals scheduled to get underway from 9.00 a.m. It will commence with the women’s singles followed by the mixed doubles, men’s singles, women’s doubles and the men’s doubles. The awards ceremony is due to be held at 12.45 p.m.

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