Sports
Viren, Panchali clinch singles crowns

WPBA Open Championships 2021
Viren Nettasinghe and Panchali Adhikari clinched the men’s and women’s singles crowns at the Western Province Badminton Association (WPBA) – organised Open Ranking Championships which marked the return of competitive badminton action at the MBA and Otters Courts over the weekend.
Nettasinghe beat Dumindu Abeywickrama 21-14, 22-20 in the men’s singles final while Adhikari overcame her counterpart Ranithma Liyanage in a thrilling final which was stretched to three sets (19-21, 21-14, 21-12).
Earlier, Nettasingle also won the men’s doubles title with his partner Rasindu Hendahewa when the talented duo overcame Resintha de Silva and Shamika de Silva in straight sets (21-12, 21-11).
Meanwhile, Adhikari and her doubles partner Manudi Mithara had to satisfy with the runner-up position after losing to Buthmi Galagamage and Nadeesha Gayanthi (16-21, 21-18, 21-17) in the final.
The mixed doubles title was won by Thulith Palliyaguru and Buthmi Galagamage who beat Lochana de Silva and Raini Abeysingha (21-16, 21-16) in the final.
Sachen Fernando (U-17) and Siyath Senaratne (U-19) emerged victorious in the boys’ singles finals while Varangana Jayawardana (U-17) and Suhasni Vidanage (U-19) clinched girls’ singles titles.
Sunil Jayasiri, Rohan Fernando, George Karunanayake, Mahinda Jayaweera, Subash Janaka, Gihan Ranasinghe and RuviniRathnasiri also won singles titles in their respective age groups.
The tournament was the first open ranking event to take place following a long break due to the COVID-19 pandemic which disrupted the country’s badminton competition schedule.
The tournament was conducted under the supervision of Sri Lanka Badminton (SLB) with all measures to prevent the spread of COVID-19 being followed.
SLT Mobitel was the main sponsor of the event which saw over 300 shuttlers in action.
Results of Western Province Open Badminton Championships 2021
Men’s Doubles 65
Winners: E M Chandratilaka/A Karunagaran
Runners-up: L G Amaratunga/Gamini Jayawardana
Men’s Singles 65
Winner: Sunil Jayasiri
Runner-up: Gamini Jayawardana
Men’s Singles 55 / 60
Winner: Rohan Fernando
Runner-up: ArunaKrishantha
Men’s Singles 50
Winner: George Karunanayake
Runner-up: Mangala Gamage
Men’s Doubles 45
Winner: Clarence Homer/Duminda Jayakody
Runner-up: Mahinda Jayaweera/Ranga Randunu
Mne’s Singles 45
Winner: Mahinda Jayaweera
Runner-up: W A Ruwankumara
Mixed Doubles 40
Winners: Jeffer Rosobin / Chandrika De Silva
Runners-up: Upendra Jayawardena / Priyanka Abeyrathna
Women’s Doubles 40 / 50
Winners: Priyanka Abeyrathna/ Umanga Rathnayake
Runners-up: Thushari Brahamanage / Sadamali Senanayake
Men’s Doubles 40
Winners: Randika Peiris / I.D Samaranayaka
Runners-up: Upendra Jayawardena / Sahan Pradeep
Men’s Singles 40
Winner: Subash Janaka
Runner-up: Conrad de Silva
Men’s Singles 35
Winner: Gihan Ranasinghe
Runner-up: Saseiharan Veerasingham
Girls Doubles U19
Winners: Panchali Adhikari / Manudi Mithara
Runners-up: ThisuniLiyanarachchi/SenujiUmagiliyage
Boys Doubles U19
Winners: Jason Homer / Savinaka Weerasekara
Runners-up: Chaniru Manmitha / Manuth Pelawatta
Girls Singles U19
Winner: Suhasni Vidanage
Runner-up: Ashini Fernando
Boys Singles U19
Winner: Siyath Senaratne
Runner-up: Thenuka de Silva
Girls Doubles U17
Winners: Maneesha Jayawardhana / Samindi Onel
Runner-up: Isuri de Alwis / Natasha Gunasekara
Boys Doubles U17
Winners: Aashinsa Herath / Saajid Majeed
Runners-up: Shenuk Samararatne / Pulina Wellalage
Girls Singles U17
Winner: Varangana Jayawardana
Runner-up: Pravina Wijesundara
Boys Singles U17
Winner: Sachen Fernando
Runners-up: Pulina Wellalage
Mixed Doubles
Winners: Thulith Palliyaguru / Buthmi Galagamage
Runners-up: Lochana de Silva / Raini Abeysingha
Women’s Doubles
Winners: Buthmi Galagamage / Nadeesha Gayanthi
Runner-up: Panchali Adhikari / Manudi Mithara
Men’s Doubles 30
Winners: Hasitha Chanaka / Rajitha Dahanayake
Runners-up: Roshan Kumara / Tony Wahydi
Men’s Doubles
Winners: Rasindu Hendahewa / Viren Nettasinghe
Runners-up: Resintha de Silva / Shamika de Silva
Women’s Singles 30
Winner: Ruvini Rathnasiri
Runner-up: Malathi Kumari
Women’s Singles
Winner: Panchali Adhikari
Runner-up: Ranithma Liyanage
Men’s Singles 30
Winner: Hasitha Chanaka
Runner-up: Roshan Kumara
Men’s Singles
Winner: Viren Nettasinghe
Runner-up: Dumindu Abeywickrama
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Advantage Bangladesh after Shanto ton

Bangladesh put themselves in a strong position in the opening Test against New Zealand after skipper Najmul Shanto struck a well-crafted century on the third day at Sylhet. Shanto remained unbeaten on 104 and was involved in an unbroken stand of 96 with Mushfiqur Rahim as the hosts went into stumps with a lead of 205.
New Zealand started off well after managing to erase the deficit even though Bangladesh were favourites to fetch the first-innings lead when play began. The visitors were trailing by 44 runs with only the tail left to bat but Kyle Jamieson and Tim Southee kept the home side at bay in the first hour before Jamieson was trapped lbw. New Zealand then managed to eke out a 7-run lead before Southee departed to give Mominul Haque his third wicket.
While Bangladesh batted out a tricky 10-over period before the lunch break, New Zealand struck immediately in the second session. Ajaz Patel got one to turn in sharply and Zakir Hasan failed to connect while attempting a nudge. As a result, the batter was trapped plumb in front to give New Zealand the first breakthrough. And then came a cruel blow in the next over as Shanto drove one straight off Southee, who got a touch before the ball hit the stumps with the non-striker Mahmudul Hasan caught short of his crease.
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This time, it was a run out again as Shanto was caught ball watching, leaving Mominul stranded. Despite the unfortunate dismissal, Bangladesh took control of the game with Shanto remaining firm at one end. Rahim, who didn’t open his account for ten deliveries, broke free against Ajaz with two boundaries in the span of three deliveries and raced to 19 off just 28 at one point.
Glenn Phillips, who had a fruitful outing with the ball in the first innings, couldn’t recreate the magic this time around as Shanto picked him apart for three boundaries in two overs. New Zealand just couldn’t create any chances before the close of play as Shanto kept going before bringing up a brilliant ton that has now firmly put Bangladesh in the driver’s seat.
Brief scores:
Bangladesh 310 & 212/3 (Najmul Shanto 104*, Mushfiqur Rahim 43*) lead New Zealand 317 (Kane Williamson 104, Glenn Phillips 42; Taijul Islam 4/109) by 205 runs
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Going into the final round of fixtures on Thursday (November 30), Uganda were favourites to get the job done as they were up against a winless Rwanda. For Zimbabwe to usurp Uganda in the points table, they had to defeat Kenya and hope for Uganda to slip against Rwanda. However, Rwanda lost a wicket in the very first over of their innings and never recovered.
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