Text by Grace Cai – Photo Credit: NMBA
13 July 2024 – Viren Nettasinghe, the captain of Sri Lanka’s men’s Olympic team and the flag bearer for the prestigious opening ceremony, is currently ranked 73rd in the BWF men’s singles world rankings. As part of his preparations for his debut at the Paris Olympic Games, set to begin in just 13 days, Nettasinghe chose to compete in both the CROWNE PLAZA Northern Marianas Open 2024 (2-7 July) and the DOVE Saipan International 2024 (9-13 July) in Saipan, Northern Marianas Islands.
At just 21 years old, Nettasinghe is the youngest shuttler heading to Paris, representing Sri Lanka with pride and inspiring a new generation of athletes with his outstanding achievements and unwavering dedication to the sport.
Earlier this week at the CROWNE PLAZA Northern Marianas Open 2024, where he held the top seed position, Nettasinghe faced a tough round of 16 match against Japan’s Keisuke Fujiwara, resulting in a loss. Despite the defeat, he maintained a positive attitude, stating that he was fully prepared and gave his all, but it wasn’t enough on the day. He acknowledged his opponent’s outstanding performance and some difficulty seeing his opponent’s smashes. Reflecting on the experience, Nettasinghe emphasized the unpredictable nature of sports, saying, “That’s part of the game and part of the sport; some days you lose, some days you win.” Looking ahead, Nettasinghe took just a day to rest before resuming training and preparing for the next tournament, the DOVE Saipan International 2024.
This week at the DOVE Saipan International 2024, Nettasinghe showcased his exceptional talent and determination. In the round of 32, he triumphed over Chen Chi Ting from Chinese Taipei in straight games (23-21, 21-18). He continued his impressive run by defeating Aryamann Tandon from India in the round of 16 (21-18, 21-15). However, in the quarterfinals, he faced Ryoma Muramoto from Japan, a strong contender in the tournament. Despite giving his all, Nettasinghe was unable to overcome Muramoto’s aggressive play, resulting in a defeat in two games (21-18, 21-16).
In less than two weeks, Nettasinghe will head to Paris for the 2024 Olympic Games. As his debut, he has been drawn into Group G in the group stage draw, where he will face Lee Zi Jia [7] from Malaysia and Pablo Abian from Spain. Honored to have witnessed his talent and sportsmanship, Nettasinghe’s presence has been a source of inspiration and excitement for all. As he embarks on his journey to the Paris Olympic Games, may he carry the charm and spirit of Saipan with him, shining brightly on the world stage. Wishing him the very best and hope he makes his country of Sri Lanka immensely proud.
