Badminton: Buwaneka, Dilmi crowned National champions

Buwaneka Goonetileke and Dilmi Dias clinched singles titles at the 69th National Badminton Championship organised by Sri Lanka Badminton at the Sugathadasa Indoor Stadium. 

Goonethileke defeated Viren Neththasinghe in a thrilling men’s title clash by 21-17, 21-9 and 21-16 to win his maiden national singles crown. 

In one of the highlights of this year’s Nationals, former champion Dinuka Karunaratne was defeated by Goonetileke (21-18, 23-21) in the men's singles semi-finals while Neththasinghe advanced to the final by defeating Dumindu Abeywickrama 21-19, 21-6).

In addition to the singles, Goonetileke also teamed up with Sachin Dias to win the men's doubles title by outplaying Neththasinghe and Rasindu Hendahewa in straight sets (21-16, 21-17).

Meanwhile, in the women's singles final, Dilmi secured the title after her opponent Kavindi Sirimannage had to pull out of the game due to a leg injury during which she suffered in the first set. 

Kavindi’s injury proved to be a costly one as her withdrawal meant she could not compete in the women's doubles and mixed doubles finals which she had already qualified for. 

Sachin and Kavindi had already qualified for the mixed doubles final but the latter’s withdrawal meant Thulith Palliyaguru and Buthmi Galagamage become champions. 

Tiana Vidanachchi and Buthmi Galagamage emerged women’s doubles champions after Thilini Hendahewa and Kavidi pulled out.

Amal Edirisuriya, Director General of the Department of Sports Development; Suresh Subramaniam, President of the National Olympic Committee, and Rohan de Silva, President of Sri Lanka Badminton, participated in the prize giving ceremony.