Lochana, Ranithma clinch NCPBA open singles titles

Age group winners with Chief Guest

Lochana de Silva and Ranitma Liyanage emerged singles champions in the open men’s and women’s divisions respectively at the North Central Province Open Badminton Championship, held in Anuradhapura.   

At the event organised by the North Central Province Badminton Association, De Silva clinched the men’s singles title, defeating Roshan Padmakumara, while Liyanage secured the women’s singles title by overcoming Rashmi Bhagya Mudalige in the finals.   

The seven-day tournament took place at both the Anuradhapura Provincial Indoor Stadium and the Mike Cook Indoor Stadium.   

In the men’s doubles category, Madhuka Dulanjana and Lahiru Weerasinghe emerged victorious over Oshamika Karunaratne and Thulith Palliaguru.   
In the women’s doubles final, Anurangi Hansamali Maskorala and Suhasni Vidanage triumphed over Irushi Amandi Hewagallage and Praveen Wijesundara.   
The mixed doubles title was claimed by Dulanjana and Nadeesha Gayanthi.   

Earlier, Mudalige, the women’s singles runner-up joined forces with Natasha Gunasekara to capture the Under 19 girls’ doubles title.   

In the Under-19 boys’ singles category, the youth badminton champion Senuk Samararatne emerged victorious, before teaming up with Sachen Chamuditha Fernando to claim the boys’ doubles title in the same age group. (SP)