Celebrated young Sri Lankan Shuttler, NilukaKarunarathnereturned to his motherland yesterday morning, with three gold medals he had grabbed from three international tournaments, within a time-span of two months!
A delighted Karunarathne was holding his three Golds, he had won at the Puerto Rico International Challenge 2011, worked off in the city of San Juan, Puerto Rico (Nov 02 – 06), XIII Bill Graham Miami International tournament, held in the USA (Nov 09 – 12), and the Yonex Welsh International Tournament, concluded on December 4, at the Sport Wales National Centre in Cardiff.
Niluka has been advancing in the world rankings throughout the past several months and currently is listed as world’s 87. He was also crowned as the Champion in the Men’s single category at the Yonex Welsh International Tournament.
Niluka is an old boy of Kularathna Maha Vidyalaya and Dharmashoka College, Ambalangoda and Royal College, Colombo. According to sources at the Badminton federation, Niluka is the first Sri Lankan who emerged victorious in three international tournaments.
Sports Minister Mahindananda Aluthgamage, along with the President of Sri Lanka Badminton Association ParakramaBasnayake and several other officials were at the Bandaranaike International Airport to receive Karunaratne.
Niluka Karunaratne is tipped as a strong medal prospect for Sri Lanka at the upcoming London 2012 Olympics.
