During the World Junior Badminton Championships, Ranithma Liyanage qualified for the final 16 in the women’s singles category, held in Nanchang, China. This marks the first time a Sri Lankan player has reached this stage in the tournament’s history. In the round of 16, she is set to compete against China’s top young player, Xu Wen Jing, with hopes of advancing to the semifinals.
In the previous round of 32, the 17-year-old player faced Vietnam’s Bich Phuong Bui, winning with scores of 21-13, 12-21, and 21-16. Ranithma successfully overcame a strong challenge from her Vietnamese opponent to secure her victory in the opening set. However, in the second set, the Vietnam’s player who came with a new strategy secured a 21-12 win.
At the start of the third set, the Vietnamese player posed a significant threat, taking an early lead of 11-4. After a break, Ranithma turned the match around and played exceptionally well, ultimately winning as her opponent succumbed to exhaustion and pressure.
In the first round of this championship, Ranithma defeated India’s Vennala Kalagotla with scores of 16-21, 21-12, and 21-15, advancing to the second round where she achieved a remarkable victory over American player Veronica Yang with scores of 21-14 and 21-16, joining the round of 32.