Badminton Nationals: A bigger and brighter contest

Wednesday, 4 January 2023 00:00 - - {{hitsCtrl.values.hits}}

SLB President Rohan de Silva

The 2022 Sri Lanka National Badminton Championships will go on the boards from 16 – 22 January 2023 at the Sugathadasa Indoor Stadium with the SLB and MBA courts in support to accommodate the large number of entries expected.

As conducted in previous years, the Badminton Nationals encompass the Senior and Junior Championships, with latest indications putting the number of entries at well over 1000 drawn from all parts of the country. Notably, this is the 70th Senior Nationals and the 38th Junior Nationals, bringing a festive air to the competition.

Sri Lanka Badminton (SLB) under the dynamic leadership of its President Rohan De Silva is leaving no stone unturned to put together a block-buster tournament that will bring out the best talent in the country.

Sri Lanka’s best players back from their recent experiences at the Commonwealth Games and other regional international tournaments are preparing to put on their best performances, which will greatly influence their ranking and entry into the National Pools for 2023. A power-packed organising tournament committee under the chairmanship of the very experienced International Referee Rohana De Silva, has been given a very seasoned team of officials drawn from the SLB Ex-Co with the President himself playing a very active role in an ex-officio capacity.

Tournament Referee is the maestro Sanjeewa Wijesekera himself, with an able assistant Samanthi Navaratne, who will ensure that the tournament will run like clockwork, as they normally do. A well-trained team of technical officials are lined up to tackle the big number of matches that must be played to decide on the champions. Sri Lanka’s front-line players are sure to be in attendance. Leading the men will be top-seeds, Buwaneka G, Sachin Dias, Ranthushka Karunatilleke, Rasindu Hendahewa, Viren Nettasinghe and Dumindu Abeywickrama while the women will be led by ever green Thilini Hendahwa and Kavidi Sirimanage, Nadeesha Gayanthi, Ranithma Liyanage and Varangana Jayawardena. Several up-and-coming contenders are sure to pose a challenge and announce their arrival on the big stage.

The junior groups will see many new faces emerge, with the preliminary rounds all worked out by the Sri Lanka Schools Badminton Association (SLSBA) as well as those coming from outside the school network.

Sports Minister Roshan Ranasinghe is expected to be the Chief Guest while many champions of yesteryear are due to adorn the event and add colour to this premier competition. The ceremonials are going to be special with prize money topping Rs. 2 million for the winners, along with many awards and gifts.

Media coverage is assured with live streaming on SLB and SLSBA YouTube and FB on all days of the tournament. Catering and medical services are all being organised to cater to a large number of spectators expected at the stadiums.

So, it is going to be a countdown from now on to a bigger, brighter National Badminton Championships 2022 and a mega event to kick-off the New Year in 2023.