Ranthushka Sasindu and Viren Nettasinghe entered the men’s Open singles final at the SSC Open badminton championships at the SSC indoor stadium yesterday.
Top seed Ranthushka from Nalanda College defeated Nadun Punchihewa 21/12, 21/16 in the semi finals yesterday while 17 year old Viren Nettasinghe from St Peter’s College Bambalapitiya excelled in the semi finals by defeating Maduka Dulanjana in two straight sets 21/14, 22/20 to enter the final which will be played today at 4pm.
Meanwhile top seed Dilmi Dias had a three setter game to beat former National champion Chandrika de Silva in the semi finals. Dilmi won easily 21/2 in the first set but the experienced Chandrika who won the recently concluded Uva Open championships won the second set 21/18 to equal the match.
However young Dilmi from Our Lady of Victories Convent Moratuwa fought back strongly to win 21/16 and enter the final. Bottom seed Hasara Wijeratna won 21/12, 21/19 over former National player Nadeesha Gayanthi to enter the final.
The tournament ends today with the grand finals at the SSC courts. Over 1800 entries were received for this tournament which was sponsored by Li-ning and was a great success according to SSC Badminton Secretary Gamini Jayasuriya.
Tommy Ellawala the president of SSC will be the Chief Guest today at the awards ceremony scheduled to held soon after the finals.
Results (semi finals)
Open Men’s singles:
Ranthushka Sasindu beat Nadun Punchihewa 21/12, 21/16
Viren Netttasinghe beat Maduka Dulanjana 21/14, 22/20
Open Women’s singles:
Dilmi Dias beat Chandrika de Silva 21/2, 18/21, 21/16
Hasara Wijeratna beat Nadeesha Gayanthi 21/12, 21/19
Open Women’s doubles:
Achini Ratnasiri/Upuli Weerasinghe beat Nadeesha Gayanthi/Oshadi Kuruppu 19/21, 21/9, 21/18
Samya Nandasiri/Yasmitha Wedamulla beat Wasana Maltarika/Nadee Lakmini 21/19, 21/12
Open Men’s doubles:
Hasitha Chanaka/R.S Kasun beat Banuka Abeysinghe/Nadun Punchihewa 22/20, 19/21, 21/10
Oshada Madushanka/Lahiru Weerasinghe beat Taveesha Perera/Sahan Siriwardena 21/12, 21/10