Ranithma reach quarter-finals at World Junior badminton

 Ranithma Liyanage

By Susil Premalal

Sri Lanka women’s Singles shuttler Ranithma Liyanage advanced to the quarter-final stage of the Yonex Sunrise BWF World Junior Badminton Championship 2025, currently underway in Guwahati, India. Yesterday, Ranithma recorded an easy win against India’s Rakshitha Sree Santosh in straight sets, in a game that lasted more than 30 minutes. 

Ranithma, the fourth seed at the World Junior Championship, was initially troubled by Rakshitha, the 10th seed, but the promising Sri Lankan shuttler regained her momentum to claim the first set by 15/11 and continued her form to seal the game by finishing the second set 15/9. 

She will now meet Si Ya Liu of China in the second quarter-final today. 

Earlier Ranithma outsmarted Ler Qi Eng of Malaysia in straight sets in a Round of 32 clash, easing past the Malaysian to reach the next round with scores of 15/9 and 15/12. 

Facing her first opponent of the seven-day world event, Ranithma thrashed Yau Sum Ip of Hong Kong in straight sets in the Round of 64 as the Sri Lankan gathered momentum to move forward as one of the favourites to reach the final. 

She beat Yau Ip 15/6 and 15/10 after receiving a bye in the Round of 128.