In a move towards nurturing young talent, Sri Lanka Badminton (SLB) is ready to unveil a formidable squad of 100 prodigious shuttlers under the age of 13. This groundbreaking initiative aligns with President RanilWickremesinghe’s visionary directive to the Ministry of Sports during a recent tour of the Mahinda Rajapaksa Sports Complex in Diyagama.
The final selection programme took place at Polonnaruwa Royal College Indoor Stadium and was inaugurated by Sports Minister Roshan Ranasinghe in the presence of SLB President Rohan De Silva. At the end of the programme, an elite squad of 40 shuttlers below 13 years of age secured their spots in the 25th and final District squad. Apart from this, an additional 10 squad, each consisting of 10 young shuttlers, were formed in 10 schools in the region, while all those werepresented with badminton gear.
This milestone accomplishment is part of the Under-13 district squad formation programme, orchestrated by SLB’s Regional Badminton Development Committee, led by Roshan Gunawardena. The objective behind this project is to identify and improve budding talents from all 25 Districts, offering them the chance to shine on both local and international stages.
With the goal of elevating Sri Lanka’s badminton status globally, this robust selection process has already identified 1000 bright stars. The concerted efforts of President RanilWickremesinghe, the Ministry of Sports, and the fervent dedication of SLB echo the nation’s commitment to fostering sporting prowess from an early age.