Saturday Sep 13, 2025
Saturday Sep 13, 2025
Tuesday, 19 August 2025 00:00 - - {{hitsCtrl.values.hits}}
Sri Lanka shuttlers delivered a commanding performance at the South Asia Regional Badminton Championships 2025 in Bhutan, winning all three age categories – Under-15, Under-17, and Under-23 – to emerge as the undisputed champions of the tournament.
The campaign began on 15 August with the Under-17 team defeating Pakistan 4-1, highlighted by straight-set victories from Keneth Aruggoda and Nethmi Ratnayake (mixed doubles), Senuth Sethmitha Perera (men’s singles), Vishwanie Wanniarachchi (women’s singles), and Nethmi and Vishwanie (women’s doubles). Although Sri Lanka dropped the men’s doubles, the rest of the matches, showed clear superiority.
On the same day, the Under-23 side dismantled Bhutan 5-0, with standout performances from Dumindu Abeywickrama and Ranithma Liyanage, who secured both singles and doubles wins.
Dumindu and Viren Nettasinghe then teamed up to seal a dominant men’s doubles win, while Ranithma and Rashmi Mudalige dismantled their Bhutani opponents with a strong show in the women’s doubles tie.
Sri Lanka’s dominance continued on August 16, where the Under 23 team beat Pakistan 5-0, while the Under 17s and Under 15s swept Bhutan by the same scoreline. The victory of the young Under-15 squad was led by singles and doubles wins from Thamindu Fernando and Nithini Kotuwegoda. Thamindu and Ranithu Premarathne also won the boys’ doubles, while Nithini and Limandi Gajali secured victory in the girls’ doubles. Thamindu and Limandi also won the mixed doubles to help Sri Lanka wrap a dominant 5-0 sweep, underlining the depth of Sri Lanka’s junior badminton program.
On the final day, yesterday, Sri Lanka stamped their authority once again with clean 5-0 wins across all age groups against Nepal. The matches featured some tough battles, including three-set thrillers in men’s singles and women’s doubles, but Sri Lanka’s players showed resilience to pull through.
With clean sweeps in all divisions, Sri Lanka reaffirmed their position as a rising powerhouse in regional badminton. The team was guided by President Roshan Gunawardena, Manager Amanda Weerasinghe, and Coach Hasitha Chanaka, whose leadership played a vital role in this historic triumph.
