Aashinsa Herath and Ranithma Thinudi were crowned the champions of the SPBA All-Island Open Badminton Championships 2025, concluded on Sunday at the District Sports Complex in Dadella, Galle. However, the highlight of the seven-day competition organised by the Southern Province Badminton Association (SPBA) were the double crowns earned by Ranithma and Marcello Vittorio, who claimed two titles each in the main Open category.
Aashinsa had to undergo tremendous pressure before he nailed Thulith Palliyaguru in the Men’s Open Singles final, as the eventual winner was given a tough battle after the game was levelled following the first two sets. Aashinsa won the first set 21/18, but Thulith came back strong to level the game by claiming the second set 21/11, making the final set a thriller, which Aashinsa prevailed with a strong 21/19 win.
Ranithma recorded an easy 2-0 win against Nethmi Ratnayake (21/9, 21/5) to clinch the Women’s Open Singles title, as she went on to partner with Praveena Wijesundara to outsmart Irushi Amandi and Sandathi Dewmini to claim the Women’s Open Doubles title and earn a double crown. Marcello Vittorio enjoyed a double delight, being part of the winning combinations of the Men’s Open Doubles and the Mixed Open Doubles to earn his double crown. Marcello partnered with Alan Darmarasaputhra to overcome Aashinsa and Lochana de Silva 2-1 in the Men’s Doubles final, after claiming the Mixed Doubles title partnered with Sarah Christine beating Thilina Rajakaruna and Varangana Jayawardena in straight sets.
Janeesha de Silva starved off an early challenge dished out by Hiruka Sahanmith to record a 2-1 win and claim the Boy’s Under-19 Singles title, after winning the first set 20/22 following a gruesome battle. He was beaten in the second set 12/21, but Janeesha returned to easily win the third set 21/14. Ranumi Manage had a cakewalk 2-0 win against Dasithma Jayathilaka on her way to emerge the Girl’s Under-19 Singles champion, while Sanuda Ariyasinghe and Thisath Rupathunga teamed up to beat Thevindu de Silva and Irun Shakya in straight sets on their way to claim the Boys’ Under-19 Doubles title.
Senuth Perera overcame Wedhaka Gomes 2-1 to annex the Boy’s Under-17 Singles title, while Sithuli Ranasinghe easily beat Nethmi Ratnayake 2-0 to claim the Girl’s Under-17 Singles crown. Keneth Aruggoda and Dinew Wimalarathne experienced a late charge from Hansa Amarasinghe and Senuth Perera, but they recorded a straight win to become the Goys’ Under-17 Doubles champions. Seasoned pair Isuri Attanayake and Sithumi de Silva recorded a 2-1 win against Thenuki de Silva and Ralindi Umagiliya to claim the Girls’ Under-17 Doubles title.
Thamindu Fernando claimed double crown in the Under-15 category, as he won both the Boy’s Singles and Boys’ Doubles titles. In the Singles final, he beat Senuda Rajapaksa in straight sets, while in the Doubles final he paired up with Senuda to similarly beat Udan Abinindu and Dasindu Peiris. Nithini Sasandhi also claimed a double crown, becoming the Girl’s Under-15 Singles and Doubles champion. She beat Limandi Padma Bandara in the Singles final, after teaming up with Manuli Methnara to record a similar win against Sethuni Jayasuriya and Tharuki Kulathunga in the Doubles final.
Hansaka Rashminda beat Hiruth Fernando to become the Boy’s Under-13 Singles champ, while Sanumi Methnara claimed the Girl’s Under-13 Singles title, and earned a double crown after teaming up with her Singles final opponent Rashmi Herath to claim the Girls’ Under-13 Doubles champions. The Boys Under-13 Doubles title was won by Dulinda Fernando and Hiruth Fernando who beat Navithu Kumarapperuma and Hansaka Rashminda 2-1.
In the Under-11 category, Pehesara Rodrigo won the Boy’s Singles title while Yenumi Sethnika became the Girl’s Singles champion. Mevindu da Silva and Yesandu de Silva emerged the Boys’ Doubles champs as Janadi Amaya and Siheli Jayasundera pocketed the Girls’ Doubles title in the tournament that began on March 10th.
The 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, and Open events comprising of Men’s and Women’s Singles, Doubles and Mixed Doubles. A combined prize money of Rs.750,000 was on offer, in addition to trophies, medals and certificates for winners, runners-up and semi-finalists of each. The National Ranking Level 1 championship sanctioned by Sri Lanka Badminton (SLB), was sponsored by McFoil, Mobil, Li Ning, 3M and GAC.
Results of all finals:
Men’s Singles: Aashinsa Herath beat Thulith Palliyaguru 2-1 (21/18, 11/21, 21/19)
Women’s Singles: Ranithma Thinudi beat Nethmi Ratnayake 2-0 (21/9, 21/5)
Men’s Doubles: Alan Darmarasaputra/Marcello Vittorio beat Lochana de Silva/Aashinsa Herath 2-1 (20/22, 21/16, 21/17)
Women’s Doubles: Ranithma Thinudi/Praveena Wijesundara beat Irushi Amandi/Sandathi Dewmini 2-0 (21/18, 21/13)
Mixed Doubles: Marcello Vittorio/Sarah Christine beat Thilina Rajakaruna/Varangana Jayawardena 2-0 (21/13, 21/16)
Boy’s U-19 Singles: Janeesha de Silva beat Hiruka Sahanmith 2-1 (22/20, 12/21, 21/14)
Girl’s U-19 Singles: Ranumi Manage beat Dasithma Jayathilaka 2-0 (21/14, 21/9)
Boys’ U-19 Doubles: Sanuda Ariyasinghe/Thisath Rupathunga beat Thevindu de Silva/Irun Shakya 2-0 (21/10, 21/6)
Boy’s U-17 Singles: Senuth Perera beat Wedhaka Gomes 2-1 (21/15, 19/21, 22/20)
Girl’s U-17 Singles: Sithuli Ranasinghe beat Nethmi Ratnayake 2-0 (21/16, 21/19)
Boys’ U-17 Doubles: Keneth Aruggoda/Dinew Wimalarathne beat Hansa Amarasinghe/Senuth Perera 2-0 (21/13, 23/21)
Girls’ U-17 Doubles: Isuri Attanayake/Sithumi de Silva beat Thenuki de Silva/Ralindi Umagiliya 2-1 (21/18, 16/21, 21/16)
Boy’s U-15 Singles: Thamindu Fernando beat Senuda Rajapaksa 2-0 (21/13, 21/9)
Girl’s U-15 Singles: Nithini Sasandhi beat Limandi Padma Bandara 2-0 (21/15, 21/15)
Boys’ U-15 Doubles: Thamindu Fernando/Senuda Rajapaksa beat Udan Abinindu/Dasindu Peiris 2-0 (21/8, 21/19)
Girls’ U-15 Doubles: Manuli Methnara/Nithini Sasandhi beat Sethuni Jayasuriya/Tharuki Kulathunga 2-0 (21/11, 21/12)
Boy’s U-13 Singles: Hansaka Rashminda beat Hiruth Fernando 2-0 (15/8, 15/13)
Girl’s U-13 Singles: Sanumi Methnara beat Rashmi Herath 2-1 (10/15, 15/13, 15/8)
Boys’ U-13 Doubles: Dulinda Fernando/Hiruth Fernando beat Navithu Kumarapperuma/Hansaka Rashminda 2-1 (14/16, 15/8, 15/6)
Girls’ U-13 Doubles: Rashmi Herath/Sanumi Methnara beat Risindi Akithya/Ishma Ishak 2-0 (15/5, 15/7)
Boy’s U-11 Singles: Pehesara Rodrigo beat Senuth Damsara 2-0 (15-10, 15-10)
Girl’s U-11 Singles: Yenumi Sethnika beat Janandi Amaya 2-0 (15/13, 15/8)
Boys’ U-11 Doubles: Mevindu da Silva/Yesandu de Silva beat Yuhas Dodangoda/Nivein Warusavithana 2-0 (15/12, 15/12)
Girls’ U-11 Doubles: Janadi Amaya/Siheli Jayasundera beat Resandi Sanudika/Lasansa Perera 2-0 (15/11, 15/9)
