A six member Sri Lanka badminton team will take part in the Sudirman Cup tournament which is scheduled to be played from today (19) to 26 in China.
This will be the 16th edition of the tournament conducted by the Badminton World Federation (BWF).
The Sri Lankan team consists of Dinuka Karunaratne, Buwaneka Gunatilleka and Sachin Dias from the men’s segment while three women players Thilini Hendahewa, Kavidi Sirimannage and Dilimi Dias will also contest the matches.
National coach Tony Wahyudi and manager Mahinda Daodampe Gamage accompanied the team. The 31 participating teams are divided into four groups with Group One consisting of the 12 teams that will compete for the title.
Group two and three (eight teams each) along with Group four (three teams) will fight for the overall placings.
According to coach Tony Wahyui, Sri Lanka will compete in Group 3B with Switzerland, Slovakia and Lithuania.
“We have a good chance to come on top in this group and then we can qualify for the classification round,” said Wahyui before leaving with the team.
The Sri Lanka team reached the venue two days before the tournament and had a successful training session.
In 2017 at the Sudirman Cup tournament Sri Lanka came on top in Group 3B.
South Korea emerged champions defeating China 3-2 in the final.