Goonethilleka, Nettasinghe finish third in Maldives shuttle challenge

By Susil Premalal   

Sri Lanka’s star shuttlers Buwaneka Goonethilleka and Viren Nettasinghe clinched the bronze medal in the men’s doubles event at the LI-NING Maldives International Challenge 2023, in Male, over the weekend.   

After eliminating some of the best pairs in the tournament in the Maldivian capital, the duo lost to formidable Malaysian pair of Low Hang Yee and Masng Eng Cheong.   Despite their best efforts, Goonethilleka and Nettasinghe were outmatched by their Malaysian opponents in the semi-final which ended with a score line of 11-21, 10-21 to Yee and Cheong.   

The Malaysian World No. 98 pair eventually fell to Thailand’s Pharanyu Kaosamaang and Thaworrapol Thongsa-Nga who went on to clinch the doubles title with a 21-19, 21-16 win.   
Earlier, in the opening round of the tournament, Goonethilleka and Nettasinghe beat a formidable Indian pair, Deep Rambhiya and Akshan Shetty 21-15, 13-21, 21-17.   Goonethilleka and Nettasinghe overcame Thai pair Pongsakorn Thongkham and Wongsathorn Thongkham in a nail-biting round two encounter 21-19, 17-21, 21-19.   

Facing the Canadian top seeds Kevin Lee and Ty Alexander Lindeman in the quarter-finals, after an exhilarating three-game contest, the Sri Lankan pair emerged victorious 15-21, 21-15, 21-19.  

• Despite their best efforts, Goonethilleka and Nettasinghe were outmatched by their Malaysian opponents in the semi-final