Hirusha Abeysinghe and Thashara Jayarathna were crowned champions at the SLB Novices Age Group Championship 2024 concluded at the New Saniro Sports Complex in Naiwala, Veyangoda on Wednesday. Hirusha overcame Gimhana Yagama in straight sets, while Tharasha took the better off Nishadi Thenushika in the boys’ and girls’ Under-19 Singles finals respectively to emerge winners of the five-day competition conducted by Sri Lanka Badminton (SLB).

Hirusha faced very little opposition from Gimhana in the boys’ Under-19 final as he won both sets 21-12 and 21-9 to record an easy win, while Thashara faced a sudden setback, losing the second set 11-21, after fighting her way to claim the first set 22-20. She maintained her composure to claim the decisive final set 21-19 after a hard-fought battle to clinch the girls’ Under-19 Singles title 2-1.

Vidun de Mel and Dilanka Indusara teamed up to beat Abishek Sooriyaarachchi and Thisal Wedage and claim the boys Under-19 Doubles title 2-1, after losing the first set 14-21. But they regained momentum to claim the two following sets 21-18 and 21-19 and claim the boys doubles crown.

Rishmitha Weerasinghe proved too strong against Buddhi Shenal, as he won the boys’ Under-17 Singles title in straight sets, while Sadesna Algama made a comfortable run in the girls’ Under-17 Singles final against Thinaya Gunathilaka to earn the title. Devwin Perera and Prasad Weerasinghe overcame stiff competition from Harish Iyangaran and Ayanahta Kamburapola, who were beaten in the boys’ Under-17 Doubles final in straight sets. In the Girls Under-17 Doubles final Senuli Kulasuriya and Dahamsi Samaraweera faced some resistance from Thenuki Gunathilaka and Sayumdi Suhasna, but managed to win the title with a straight win.

Eshan Fernando claimed a double crown in the Under-15 age category, as he won the Singles and Doubles titles after a composed performance. Eshan overcame Udan Abinindu in the boys’ Singles final before claiming the title with a 2-1, and teamed up with Yoshen Fernando to record a similar win in the boys Doubles final. Ranuli Suriarachchi won her duel against Ayami Sedara to claim the Girls Under-15 Singles title with a straight win, while Rianne Rathnasiri teamed up with Dinuwari Weediyage to beat the combination of Arundie Herath and Nethaya Sithsari in straight sets to claim the girls’ Doubles title of the same age category.

Vidan Ranasinghe showed some early resistance but Ramithu Dimansith readjusted himself to bounce back and claim the boys Under-13 Singles title with a 2-1 win. Prasanasa Eliyana had very little trouble in defeating Ayeshmi Fonseka in straight sets and clinch the girls’ Under-13 Singles title. Bimsara Jayasuriya and Sadesh Kamburapola were too strong against Senula Samarakoon and Mindinu Wimalarathna, who were beaten in straight sets in the Boys Under-13 Doubles final, while after an initial setback Ayeshmi Fonseka and Oneesha Silva bounced back to beat Thisasnie de Silva and Shalani Sathkumara 2-1 to win the Girls Under-13 Doubles final.

Eshan Jayawardana claimed a double crown in the Under-13 age category, as he won the Singles and Doubles titles to become the second shuttler of the competition to earn a double crown. Eshan overcame Nesath Abeysinghe 2-1 in the boys Under-11 Singles final, and then teamed up with Lushan Kamburapola to claim the Boys Doubles title with a straight win against Kiwen Abeysinghe and Anuka Indusara. Janandi Amaya too were shaken by Thinethi Sehansa initially, but managed to bounce back and claim a 2-1 in the Girls Under-11 Singles final. Dulanya Hirundi and Yuhansa Siriwardhana faced very little opposition from Vihangi Punchihewa and Dihansa Siriwardana, who were comprehensively beaten in straight sets in the Girls Doubles final.

A record number of entries, exceeding 1,000, were received for the inaugural Age Group Novices Badminton Championship, organised and conducted by SLB and its Regional Development Committee. The competition, which kicked off on September 28, went on until October 2 at New Saniro Airport Sports Complex in Naiwala.

The organisers lined up competitions beginning from the Under-11, Under-13, Under-17 to Under-19 for boys and girls, with the Singles winners of both boys and girls of each category guaranteed with a Tab Computer as the winning prize. In addition, all winners of the Doubles in boys and girls were presented with a set of branded playing racquets, while the runners-up of Singles and Doubles of both boys and girls categories of all age groups, received Badminton Equipment Kits as rewards.

Shuttlers who reached the semi-final stage in both Singles and Doubles of all age groups and categories were presented with Pen Drives, while the players who reached the quarter-final stage were presented with branded pairs of socks, with the able sponsorship of Sunquick, McFoil, Mobil, Li Ning, Multilac, United Sports and Prime Group.

Sri Lanka Badminton and its Regional Development Committee introduced the Age Group Novices Badminton Championship with the intention of creating a pathway for school shuttlers to reach the national stage.

The winners received Tab Computers

Results of all Finals:

Boys U-19 Singles

: Hirusha Abeysinghe beat Gimhana Yagama 2-0 (21/12, 21/9)

Girls U-19 Singles

: Thashara Jayarathna beat Nishadi Thenushika 2-1 (22/20, 11/21, 21/19)

Boys U-19 Doubles: Vidun de Mel/Dilanka Indusara beat Abishek Sooriyaarachchi/Thisal Wedage 2-1 (14/21, 21/18, 21/19)

Boys U-17 Singles: Rishmitha Weerasinghe beat Buddhi Shenal 2-0 (21/18, 21/13)

Girls U-17 Singles: Sadesna Algama beat Thinaya Gunathilaka 2-0 (21/8, 21/9)

Boys U-17 Doubles: Devwin Perera/Prasad Weerasinghe beat Harish Iyangaran/Ayanahta Kamburapola 2-0 (21/12, 21/17)

Girls U-17 Doubles: Senuli Kulasuriya/Dahamsi Samaraweera beat Thenuki Gunathilaka/Sayumdi Suhasna 2-0 (23/21, 21/18)

Boys U-15 Singles: Eshan Fernando beat Udan Abinindu 2-1 (21/12, 10/21, 21/9)

Girls U-15 Singles: Ranuli Suriarachchi beat Ayami Sedara 2-0 (21/14, 21/11)

Boys U-15 Doubles: Eshan Fernando/Yoshen Fernando beat Sivanga Fernando/Sheran Kaveesha 2-1 (19/21, 21/16, 21/19)

Girls U-15 Doubles: Rianne Rathnasiri/Dinuwari Weediyage beat Arundie Herath/Nethaya Sithsari 2-0 (21/17, 21/17)

Boys U-13 Singles: Ramithu Dimansith beat Vidun Ranasinghe 2-1 (14/16, 15/12, 15/11)

Girls U-13 Singles: Prasanasa Eliyana beat Ayeshmi Fonseka 2-0 (15/12, 15/3)

Boys U-13 Doubles: Bimsara Jayasuriya/Sadesh Kamburapola beat Senula Samarakoon/Mindinu Wimalarathna 2-0 (15/9, 15/2)

Girls U-13 Doubles: Ayeshmi Fonseka/Oneesha Silva beat Thisasnie de Silva/Shalani Sathkumara 2-1 (6/15, 15/10, 15/10)

Boy’s U-11 Singles: Eshan Jayawardana beat Nesath Abeysinghe 2-1 (13/15, 15/4, 15/10)

Girls U-11 Singles: Janandi Amaya beat Thinethi Sehansa 2-1 (13/15, 15/10, 15/12)

Boys U-11 Doubles: Eshan Jayawardana/Lushan Kamburapola beat Kiwen Abeysinghe/Anuka Indusara 2-0 (15/12, 15/7)

Girls U-11 Doubles: Dulanya Hirundi/Yuhansa Siriwardhana beat Vihangi Punchihewa/Dihansa Siriwardana 2-0 (15/2, 15/6)