Veteran badminton players win 25 medals at Open Masters Games

By Susil Premalal

Sri Lanka’s veteran badminton players won an impressive tally of 25 medals at the IMGA Open Masters Games Abu Dhabi 2026, grabbing nine gold and nine silver medals in addition to seven bronze medals. 

The Sri Lankans were among the top performers of the multi-sport event annually organised and conducted by the International Masters Games Association, where over 25,000 athletes above 30 years competed in 38 different sports disciplines between February 6 and 15 in Abu Dhabi.

Among the nine gold medallists were Olympian Niluka Karunaratne, who won the over-35 men’s Singles and Nadeesha Gayanthi and Kaushali Rodrigo, who claimed two gold medals each. 

Nadeesha claimed two gold medals in the women’s over-40 Singles and Doubles while Kaushali excelled in the women’s Over-55 to claim the gold in Singles and Doubles, partnering with Sriyani. 

Lakshmi Punchihewa partnered with Enoka to win the gold in the women’s over-65 Doubles, while Unang paired up with Manjula Fernando to claim the men’s over-50 Doubles, as well as the Mixed Doubles of that age group partnering Renu Chandrika de Silva. Bruni Bin Garip completed Sri Lanka’s ninth gold medal, winning the men’s Ooer-70 Singles. 

Nadeesha Gayanthi and Manjula Fernando added another silver medal to their tally, winning the over-40 Mixed Doubles, while Lakshmi Punchihewa claimed the silver in the over-65 women’s Singles. 

Rohan de Silva partnered with Bruni Garip to claim the silver medal of men’s over-70 Doubles, while Chithra Arachchige claimed two silver medals in the over-55 Singles and Doubles. 

Clarence Homer won a silver medal in the over-55 Mixed Doubles, as well as the men’s Doubles partnering with Upendra Perera. Sri Lanka added two more silver medals in the men’s over-45 Doubles through Randika and Romesh and men’s over-55 winner Nishantha Jayamanna and Rudianto.

Among the bronze medallists, Renu Chandrika de Silva topped with two from the over-55 women’s Singles and Doubles, partnering Thushari, while Enoka accounted for two medals. She paired up with Lakshmi Punchihewa in the women’s over-60 and then went on to add another to the tally in the Mixed over-65 partnering veteran Rohan de Silva, while Charith, Romesh and Thushari added three more bronze medals to Sri Lanka’s overall tally.