Sri Lanka dominate Badminton Asia Regional South Asia Championship with 17 gold medals

SRI Lankan shuttlers entirely dominated the Badminton Asia South Asia Regional Championship 2025, which concluded in Thimphu, Bhutan yesterday, with an impressive haul of 24 medals.

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The tally included a total of 17 gold medals, out of an impressive 15 finals appearances, six silver medals, following five all-Sri Lankan finals, and four bronze medals.

The 17 gold medals include the three secured at the Team Events of the Badminton Asia South Asia Regional Championship on the first three days, and 14 won at the Individual Events held from 19 to 22 August. The remaining gold medal was claimed by Nepal, who also claimed an impressive tally of seven silver medals and 10 bronze medals, while Pakistan secured two silver medals and seven bronze medals. Hosts Bhutan settled in at overall fourth place with nine bronze medals.

Among the top achievers for Sri Lanka were Olympian Viren Nettasinghe, Ranithma Liyanage, Nethmi Ratnayake, and Nithini Guruge, who bagged three gold medals apiece. Viren won gold medals in Men's Singles, Men's Doubles and Mixed Doubles, while Ranithma equally impressed claiming the gold medals in Women’s Singles, Women's Doubles and Mixed Doubles, partnered with Viren.

Viren overcame fellow countryman Dumindu Abeywickrama in the Men’s Singles, who both later paired up to defeat Prince Dahal and Kshitiz Khanal of Nepal to claim the Men's Doubles gold. Ranithma had an easy passage in the Women's Singles final against fellow compatriot Rashmi Mudalige, before paring up to hand Nepali duo Rasila Maharian and Ayushma Nepal a straight defeat to claim the Women’s Doubles gold. Viren and Ranithma teamed up to thrash Muhammad Adnan and Ammarah Ishtiaq of Pakistan and complete their hat-tricks with the Mixed Doubles gold.