The RO Badminton Academy successfully concluded its inaugural Feather Badminton Championship 2026, held on Jan. 24 and 25 at the Royal College Sports Complex, drawing players from across Sri Lanka.
The two-day tournament attracted emerging badminton players from around the island, while the participation of former national champions added momentum and competitiveness to the event.
Several prominent figures in Sri Lankan badminton took part, including 18-time national champion Niluka Karunaratne, along with national champions Niroshan Wijekoon, Kusali Dissanayake and Duminda Jayakody. Their presence inspired both younger and senior players and heightened the competitive atmosphere throughout the tournament.
Matches were conducted across multiple categories, including age-based doubles for players over 35, 40, 45, 50 and 55, combined categories of 90-plus and 100-plus, as well as mixed doubles. A number of finals were closely contested and decided by narrow margins.
In the Over 35 category, Niluka Karunaratne and Charith Wijenayake won the title, while Iresh de Silva and Imandha Nimalchandra finished second. The Over 40 championship was claimed by Karunaratne and Randika Peiris, with Thanuja Liyanage and Susil Karunaratne placing second.
Senior players also delivered strong performances. Clarence Holmes and Duminda Somanayake secured the Over 55 title, while Roshan Padmakumara and Rohan Pranandu won the Combined 100-plus category. The mixed doubles championship was claimed by Duminda Jayakody and Priyanka Aberathna.
Organizers awarded trophies, certificates and cash prizes to the winners, aiming to encourage greater participation and raise the standard of competitive badminton.
The championship was held with support from McLarens Holdings and Mobil Oil as main sponsors, along with backing from Sports Avenue, Delas Skin Care and Serene Gems. Organizers said the event was part of a broader effort to promote badminton and indicated that future tournaments organized by the academy would be larger in scale. (Newswire)