Viren Nettasinghe
Viren Nettasinghe, who recently made history by becoming the youngest Sri Lankan to directly qualify for the Olympics, is gearing up to showcase his skills on yet another prestigious international stage when he competes as the top seed in the men’s singles events at two events.
He is set to compete in the Northern Mariana Islands ahead of his participation in the Paris Olympics.
Nettasinghe, Sri Lanka’s top ranked shuttler who is currently placed 75th in the world, will take part in the Northern Marianas Open from July 2-7 and then the Saipan International Open Badminton Tournament 2024 from July 9-13. Both tournaments will be held in the picturesque town of Saipan in the Northern Mariana Islands.
Total prize money of US$15,000 is on offer to the winners at the two BWF Grade 3 International Challenge tournaments that attract top talent from around the world. Sanctioned by the Badminton World Federation (BWF) and Badminton Oceania, both tournaments are hosted by the Northern Marianas Badminton Association.
The Northern Marianas Open will see the singles Round of 64 and the Round of 32 events taking place on July 2 and 3 while the pre-quarter-finals will be held on July 4. The quarter-finals will take place on July 5, followed by the semi-finals the next day, culminating in the gold medal matches on July 7.
Nettasinghe’s participation in the two tournaments in Saipan will provide him with the opportunity to further hone his skills and gain valuable experience against some of the world’s best players, serving as a critical preparation ground for him as he sets his sights on the upcoming Paris Olympics scheduled to start on July 26.
