Sarah Christina earned a triple crown, including the Women Open Singles champ, while Ranthushka Karunathilake claimed the Men’s Open Singles title as the NWPBA All-Island Open Badminton Championship 2025 produced few upsets at the Vijayabahu Infantry Regiment Sports Complex in Boyagane, Kurunegala. The National Ranking Level 1 competition sanctioned by Sri Lanka Badminton (SLB), was conducted by the North Western Province Badminton Association (NWPBA) from February 17th to 23rd with the participation of country’s top ranked shuttlers.
Ranthushka recorded a straight 22/20, 21/18 win against Shenuka Samararatne to emerge as the Men’s Open Singles champion, while Sarah claimed the Women’s Open Single, Women’s Open Doubles and Mixed Open Doubles title for her triple crown. She recorded a 2-1 win against favourite Rashmi Mudalige and partnered with Praveena Wijesundara to beat firm favourites Varangana Jayawardana and Rashmi Mudalige to annex the Women’s Open Doubles title with a straight win. Her triple crown came with the win of the Mixed Open Doubles with Alan Darmarasaputhra, as the duo teamed up to overcome Thulith Palliyaguru and Panchali Adhikari 2-1. Oshamika Karunaratna and Thulith Palliyaguru won the Men’s Open Doubles title against Sanuda Ariyasinghe and Thisath Rupathunga with in straight win.
Reshan Dimbukkuwalage defeated Pamith Attanayake in straight sets to win the Boy’s Under-19 Singles title, while Sandathi Dewmini recorded a straight win against Dilni Ambalangodage to emerge as the Girl’s Under-19 Singles champion. Sanuda Ariyasinghe paired up with Thisath Rupathunga to hand Dinidu Samarasinghe and Dinidu Sithusara a straight defeat and claim the Boys’ Under-19 Doubles champions while the Girls’ Under-19 Doubles crown was claimed by Dilni Ambalangodage and Ranumi Manage who comfortably recorded a straight win against Methuli Nawaratne and Minushi Abhimani in the final.
Senuth Perera and Nethmi Ratnayake recorded identical wins of 2-1 against Keneth Aruggoda and Sithuli Ranasinghe respectively to earn the Boy’s Under-17 Singles and Girl’s Under-17 Singles titles. Samiru Ranasinghe and Pamudu Randiligama teamed up to record a inspiring 2-1 win against Hansa Amarasinghe and Senuth Perera to claim the Boys’ Under-17 Doubles champions while Vinuthi Ranasinghe and Yenara Wickramasinghe created a major upset to annex the Girls’ Under-17 Doubles title after a worthy 2-1 win. The underdog pair of Vinuthi and Yenara staged probably the greatest display when they humbled the international medal-winning dup Isuri Attanayake and Sithumi de Silva in an evenly contested final.
Thamindu Fernando and Nithini Sasandhi won double crowns in the Under-15 category, winning both the finals they appeared in. Thamindu beat Senuda Rajapaksa in straight sets to win the Boy’s Singles title and teamed up with his opponent to defeat Yasiru Jayawardana and Sithika Resandul in straight sets to win the Boys’ Doubles title. In similar fashion, Nithini beat Manuli Methara in straight set to win the Girl’s Singles title and teamed up with her opponent to defeat Miyesi Nethara and Nisheli Samararatne in straight sets to claim the Girls’ Doubles title.
The seven-day championship featured a wide range of events from Under-11 to Under-19 in the Junior category and Over-30 to Over-70 in the Senior category, including three Combined Age groups of 100+ for Veterans. The main attraction of the competition was the Open events comprising of Men’s and Women’s Singles, Doubles and Mixed Doubles, with the losers of Men’s and Women’s Singles from their first games guaranteed a passage to the Plate Segment.
A combined prize money of Rs.750,000 for all events was on offer, in addition to trophies, medals and certificates awarded for the winners, runners-up and semi-finalists of each event of the tournament. Junior winners received appropriate gifts instead of prize money, according to the decision taken by the tournament organisers. The tournament was sponsored by Mobil, Li Ning, McFoil, 3M and GAC
Results of Finals
Open category
Men’s Singles: Ranthushka Karunathilake beat Shenuk Samararatne 2-0 (22/20, 21/18)
Women’s Singles: Sarah Christina beat Rashmi Mudalige 2-1 (21/14, 19/21, 21/16)
Men’s Doubles: Oshamika Karunaratna/Thulith Palliyaguru beat Sanuda Ariyasinghe/Thisath Rupathunga 2-0 (21/14, 21/20)
Women’s Doubles: Sarah Christina/Praveena Wijesundara beat Varangana Jayawardana/Rashmi Mudalige 2-0 (21/12, 21/17)
Mixed Doubles: Alan Darmarasaputhra/Sarah Christina beat Thulith Palliyaguru/Panchali Adhikari 2-1 (21/15, 19/21, 21/10)
Under-19
Boy’s Singles: Reshan Dimbukkuwalage beat Pamith Attanayake 2-0 Rtd (21/12, 11/6)
Girl’s Singles: Sandathi Dewmini beat Dilni Ambalangodage 2-0 (21/13, 21/18)
Boys’ Doubles: Sanuda Ariyasinghe/Thisath Rupathunga beat Dinidu Samarasinghe/Dinidu Sithusara 2-0 (22/20, 21/16)
Girls’ Doubles: Dilni Ambalangodage/Ranumi Manage beat Methuli Nawaratne/Minushi Abhimani 2-0 (21/8, 21/9)
Under-17
Boy’s Singles: Senuth Perera beat Keneth Aruggoda 2-1 (19/21, 21/18, 21/19)
Girl’s Singles: Nethmi Ratnayake beat Sithuli Ranasinghe 2-1 (21/18, 19/21, 21/12)
Boys’ Doubles: Samiru Ranasinghe/Pamudu Randiligama beat Hansa Amarasinghe/Senuth Perera 2-1 (15/21, 21/18, 21/8)
Girls’ Doubles: Vinuthi Ranasinghe/Yenara Wickramasinghe beat Isuri Attanayake/Sithumi de Silva 2-1 (13/21, 21/8, 21/16)
Under-15
Boy’s Singles: Thamindu Fernando beat Senuda Rajapaksa 2-0 (21/11, 21/11)
Girl’s Singles: Nithini Sasandhi beat Manuli Methara 2-0 (21/14, 21/12)
Boys’ Doubles: Thamindu Fernando/Senuda Rajapaksa beat Yasiru Jayawardana/Sithika Resandul 2-0 (21/12, 21/8)
Girls’ Doubles: Manuli Methara/Nithini Sasandhi beat Miyesi Nethara/Nisheli Samararatne 2-0 (21/8, 21/4)
