Thilina Rajakaruna and Panchali Adhikari shuttled their way to emerge as Men’s and Women’s Open Singles champs at the Puttalam District All-Island Open Badminton Championships 2025, concluded at the Sir Albert F. Peiris Indoor Sports Complex in Wennappuwa yesterday. Thilina shocked top seed and firm favourite Aashinsa Herath to clinch the Men’s Singles title, while Panchali totally outsmarted double crown Praveena Wijesundara in straight sets to pocket the Women’s Singles crown.
Aashinsa made a solid start by recording an easy 21/13 win against Thilina in the first set of the crucial final, but the spirited shuttler made a grand recovery to totally dominate the next two sets by 21/16 and 21/14, leaving no stones unturned on his way to clinch the Men’s Open Singles title. Panchali, on the other hand, had very little trouble against Praveena, who was comprehensively beaten in straight sets by 21/10 and 21/14 in the Women’s Open Singles final.
Earlier on, the paring of Aashinsa Herath and Alan Kristanto had completed their mission to beat Dinuru Priyashantha and Siyath Senaratne by 2-1 to win the Men’s Open Doubles title. Even Praveena had laid the foundation for a possible double crown, when she partnered with Anurangi Masakorala to beat Vinuthi Ranasinghe and Yenara Wickramasinghe in straight sets to claim the Women’s Open Doubles title. Praveen then earned a double by claiming the Mixed Open Doubles title partnered with Achinthya Imesha, as they beat the pair of Thulith Palliyaguru and eventual Singles winner Panchali Adhikari in straight sets, despite being challenged heavily in the second set. The Men’s Plate Singles title went to Duviyn Jayakody, who received a walkover from Samuditha Rathnayaka in the final.
Thidasa Irushika and Thisuri Gunawardena became the Boy’s and Girl’s Under-19 Singles champions respectively after earning contrast wins in their finals. Thidasa had to face still challenge from Maneth Wijegunawardana, who made the Boy’s Singles final an exciting thriller, after losing the first set to Maneth by 22/20, following a close battle, Thidasa followed to make a solid recovery in the second set by 21/14, before facing an even tougher third set, which ended in favour of the eventual winner by 24/22. Thisuri faced a similar opponent in Yenara Wickramasinghe, but she was fully composed in her straight win to claim the Girl’s Singles title. Janeesha de Silva and Thenul Ganewatta paired up to beat Nethil Thewmika and Maneth Wijegunawardana to win the Boys’ U-19 Doubles title, while Vinuthi Ranasinghe and Yenara Wickramasinghe beat Methuli Nawaratne and Minusha Padma Bandara in straight sets to win the Girls’ U-19 Doubles title.
Top seed Keneth Aruggoda claimed a double crown in the Under-17 age group, winning the Boy’s Singles as well as the Doubles title partnered with Dinew Wimalaratne, while Siathuli Ranasinghe won the Girl’s Singles title. Keneth beat Dinew 2-1 in the Boy’s Singles final, and the two finalists teamed up to beat Samiru Ranasinghe and Pamudu Randiligama in an absorbing Boys’ Doubles final. Sithuli made little effort to overcome Vishwanie Wanniarachchi in the Girl’s Singles final on her way to record a straight win. Favourites Isuri Attanayake and Sithumi de Silva regained their lost touch as they regrouped to hand Chathumi Kavihara and Sanuki Thehasna a straight defeat to claim the Girls’ Doubles title.
Thamindu Fernando and Limandi Padma Bandara claimed doubles crowns in the Under-15 age category, winning both the Singles and Doubles titles. Thamindu recorded a comfortable 2-0 win against Yasiru Dinhas to claim the Boy’s Singles title, and later partnered with Senuda Rajapaksa to overcome Sihath Jenusara and Risinu Lakmitha on straight sets to claim the Boys’ Doubles title. Limandi confronted very little trouble against Saheli Kalutharaarachchi to record a straight win on her way to claim the Girl’s Singles title, as she paired up with Sayuni Kulasuriya to Miyesi Nethara and Nisheli Samararatne 2-0 to win the Girls’ Doubles title.
Organised by the Puttalam District Badminton Association (PDBA), the seven-day championship attracted over 675 shuttlers, who competed under different categories. The championships 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. The Open events comprising Men’s and Women’s Singles, Doubles and Mixed Doubles, took centre stage.
A grand prize money of Rs.750,000 for all events based on the number of entries, were on offer, in addition to trophies, medals and certificated guaranteed for 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 National Ranking Level 1 tournament, was sponsored by McFoil, Mobil, Li-Ning, 3M and GAC.
Results of Finals
Men’s Open Singles: Thilina Rajakaruna beat Aashinsa Herath 2-1 (13-21, 21/16, 21/14)
Women’s Open Singles: Panchali Adhikari beat Praveena Wijesundara 2-0 (21/10, 21/14)
Men’s Doubles: Aashinsa Herath/Alan Kristanto beat Dinuru Priyashantha/Siyath Senaratne 2-1 (18/21, 21/19, 21/16)
Women’s Open Doubles: Anurangi Masakorala/Praveena Wijesundara beat Vinuthi Ranasinghe/Yenara Wickramasinghe 2-0 (21/13, 23/21)
Mixed Open Doubles: Achinthya Imesha/Praveena Wijesundara beat Thulith Palliyaguru/Panchali Adhikari 2-0 (21/15, 22/20)
Men’s Plate Singles: Duviyn Jayakody beat Samuditha Rathnayaka (w/o)
Boy’s U-19 Singles: Thidasa Irushika beat Maneth Wijegunawardana 2-1 (20/22, 21/14, 24/22)
Girl’s U-19 Singles: Thisuri Gunawardena beat Yenara Wickramasinghe 2-0 (21/18, 21/16)
Boys’ U-19 Doubles: Janeesha de Silva/Thenul Ganewatta beat Nethil Thewmika/Maneth Wijegunawardana 2-0 (21/19, 21/15)
Girls’ U-19 Doubles: Vinuthi Ranasinghe/Yenara Wickramasinghe beat Methuli Nawaratne/Minusha Padma Bandara 2-0 (21/12, 21/17)
Boy’s U-17 Singles: Keneth Aruggoda beat Dinew Wimalaratne 2-1 (14/21 21/15, 21/8)
Girl’s U-17 Singles: Sithuli Ranasinghe beat Vishwanie Wanniarachchi 2-0 (21/9, 21/13)
Boys’ U-17 Doubles: Keneth Aruggoda/Dinew WImalaratne beat Samiru Ranasinghe/Pamudu Randiligama 2-0 (21/14, 22/20)
Girls’ U-17 Doubles: Isuri Attanayake/Sithumi de Silva beat Chathumi Kavihara/Sanuki Thehasna 2-0 (21/12, 21/17)
Boy’s U-15 Singles: Thamindu Fernando beat Yasiru Dinhas 2-0 (21/18, 21/7)
Girl’s U-15 Singles: Limandi Padma Bandara beat Saheli Kalutharaarachchi 2-0 (21/9, 21/15)
Boys’ U-15 Doubles: Thamindu Fernando/Senuda Rajapaksa beat Sihath Jenusara/Risinu Lakmitha 2-0 (21/10, 21/15)
Girls’ U-15 Doubles: Sayuni Kulasuriya/Limandi Padma Bandara beat Miyesi Nethara/Nisheli Samararatne 2-0 (21/19, 21/12)
