Sri Lankan shuttlers impressed on the second day of the ongoing Bahrain International Series 2024, which is currently underway in Manama, Bahrain. The tournament, organised by Badminton Asia, continues until Sunday at the India Club Bahrain in Manama.
Top Sri Lankan female athletes, Rashmi Mudalige and Ranithma Liyanage recorded straightforward wins against their respective opponents in the Women’s Singles Round of 16 to reach the quarter-final stage, while their male counterparts, Thilina Rajakaruna, Reshan Dimbukkuwalage and Aashinsa Herath won their Men’s Singles Round of 32 games with ease to reach the next level.
Rashmi Mudalige overcame India’s Annanya Pravin in straight sets, in her Round of 16 game in the Women’s Singles, with set wins of 21/11 and 21/12. Her team mate Ranithma Liyanage too, recorded a comfortable win in similar fashion by defeating Nayonika Rajesh of the UAE in straight sets, with set wins of 21/12 and 21/7.
In the Men’s Singles Round of 32, Thilina Rajakaruna was the first of the three Sri Lankan male shuttlers to record a win, as he recorded a comfortable 2-0 win against Nimai Rajesh of Bahrain, recording easy set wins of 21/3 and 21/5. Rajakaruna is set to take on top seed Vishal Vasudevan of India in the Men’s Round of 16 later on.
Aashinsa Herath recorded a cakewalk win against Hussain Mahdi of Bahrain in straight sets, as he made little effort to record set wins of 21/5 and 21/4 in the Men’s Singles Round of 32. He will take on Charan Naik of India in the Round of 16 clash. Reshan Dimbukkuwalage received a walkover from Rudra Shahi of India and will take on Amirhossein Hasani of Iran, currently seeded eighth in the tournament, in the Men’s Singles Round of 16.
In other matches slotted, Sri Lanka’s Women’s Doubles pair Isuri Attanayake and Sithumi de Silva will take on Bahrain pair Noor Fardeen Hasan and Zainab Ali Sowaid in a Round of 16 clash later on the day. This game will be played soon after Sri Lankan Men’s Doubles pair Dinura Rashnika Priyashan and Siyath Senaratne, who will take on Bahrain’s Adnan Ebrahim and Muhammad Firmansyah
Results:
Women’s Singles Round of 16: Rashmi Mudalige (SL) beat Annanya Pravin (Ind) 2-0 (21/11, 21/12), Ranithma Liyanage beat Nayonika Rajesh (UAE) 2-0 (21/12, 21/7)
Men’s Singles Round of 32: Thilina Rajakaruna beat Nimai Jinesh (Bah) 2-0 (21/3, 21/5), Aashinsa Herath beat Hussain Mahdi (Bah) 2-0 (21/5, 21/4), Reshan Dimbukkuwalage received a walkover from Rudra Shahi (Ind)
