General Sir John Kotelawala Defence University (KDU) Shuttlers Emerge Runners-Up at the APIIT Extravaganza Badminton Tournament
The Badminton tournament organized by the Asia Pacific Institute of Information Technology (APIIT) as a part of the annual APIIT sports Extravagnza 2024 was held at the Mercantile Badminton Courts in Colombo 07, on August 24 and 25. Sixteen teams participated in the tournament, representing both state and non-state universities, with KDU fielding two teams: as Team A and Team B. The tournament was conducted as a team doubles tournament, with each match consisting of one men’s double, one women’s double, and three mixed doubles, with the winner being decided based on the best of five matches. The group stage of the tournament was played on a league basis under four groups.
KDU Team A ended the group stage matches unbeaten by defeating National Institute of Business Management (NIBM) (3-0), ECU Campus (3-0), and APIIT Blacks (3-0), and qualified for the knockout stages. Meanwhile, KDU Team B had tough luck in their group stages as they lost their three matches against University of Sri Jayawardenapura (1-3), Informatics Institute of Technology (IIT) A (0-3), and National School of Business Management (NSBM) A (0-3).
In the quarter finals, KDU Team A continued their exceptional form from the group stages by beating Colombo International Nautical and Engineering College (CINEC) (3-0) and qualifying to play APIIT Reds in the semifinals. The KDU shuttlers maintained their fighting spirit and delivered another spirited performance, outclassing the APIIT Reds 3-0 to secure their place in the finals.
Going in to the finals with high spirits, KDU Team A faced the Sri Lanka Institute of Information Technology (SLIIT) shuttlers, who were also unbeaten in the tournament. Both teams displayed high quality skills and fighting spirits amidst the cheering of a large crowd who were fortunate enough to witness powerful smashes and long rallies, keeping the intensity of the finals high. However, the SLIIT players prevailed on the day, overcoming the determined KDU Team A with a 3-1 victory. KDU had to concede the fourth game due to an unfortunate injury to one of their players midway through the second set of the mixed doubles.
The KDU family congratulates the shuttlers on this remarkable achievement.
