SL shuttlers eye impressive show at Commonwealth Games

Sri Lanka Badminton President Rohan de Silva (centre) with players and officials   

By Susil Premalal

Three-time Olympian Niluka Karunaratne will lead Sri Lanka’s hopes in badminton competitions at the 22nd Commonwealth Games, which will take place in Birmingham, England from July 29 to August 8.   

The 37-year-old, ranked 131st in the World, will be joined by five other compatriots at Birmingham’s National Exhibition Centre Courts as Sri Lanka look to impress in badminton.   

Sachin Dias, Buwaneka Goonathilleke, Thilini Hendahewa, Dumindu Abeywickrema and Suhasni Vidanage are the rest of the members of the team, coached by Indonesian former Asian Singles champion Jeffer Rosobin.   
Kanchana Wimalasuriya is the team Manager on tour. Abeywickrema and Vidanage will be making their debut in the Commonwealth Games.   

Karunaratne and Abeywickrema will play the Singles while Sri Lanka’s most experienced Men’s doubles pair Goonathilleke and Dias – currently ranked 95th in the World - will also be looking for an impressive show.   
Meanwhile, Vidanage will play both Singles and Women’s Doubles – partnered by Hendahewa who also competes in the Mixed Doubles event.   

Sri Lanka is pitted in Group ‘1’ along with the defending champions India, Australia and Pakistan. Their first opponents will be Australia on July (29).