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Viren Nettasinghe, Sri Lanka’s top men’s singles badminton player, achieved a remarkable win against World No. 2 Anders Antonsen from Denmark in an exhibition match at the Mercantile Badminton Association (MBA) Courts in Colombo yesterday. This historic event for Sri Lankan badminton allowed local fans to watch a high-ranking player compete, and Viren showcased his impressive skills to secure the win.
Anders, a three-time world championships medalist, came into the match with some pressure but started the game confidently. Both players demonstrated great skills, and after a close battle, Viren won the first set 21-18.
In the second set, the competition remained tight. Anders tried several tactical moves to challenge the 21-year-old Viren, who is aiming for Olympic qualification. However, Viren used effective cross smashes to score quickly and won the second set 21-14.
Viren is excited about the possibility of competing in the Olympics again. He is improving his game rapidly and enjoyed playing in front of his supporters against a well-known international player. “It’s a great experience to play against the World No. 2. It’s definitely a dream come true for me. I want to thank Sri Lanka Badminton and Ceylon Masters Badminton for this opportunity,” said Viren after the game.
The exhibition game was made possible through the passionate commitment of local badminton stalwarts Sumith Guruge and Rohan de Silva, as well as the support of Sri Lanka Badminton.
