Coming into the friendly game with a trivial pressure to face the three-time World Championships medallist, Viren began his run with composure, as Anders approached quite warmly, allowing the Sri Lankan rising star to record the first point of the game.
While the game fluctuated evenly, both players showed great skills in the set that was eventually snatched by Viren 21/18, despite it moved pretty evenly until the latter part.
The second set proved to be evenly poised again, even though Anders made a few tactical and technically perfect moves to test Sri Lanka’s youngest shuttler to earn direct qualification to an Olympic.
The Danish, who clearly had to battle with the unfamiliar and scorching heat, even utilised short phases during the second set to make prank moves, with certain intension of providing entertainment to the large number of spectators who came in to witness a high-profile game.
Eventually Viren played an improved and improvised game pattern, mainly using cross smashes to earn quick points and seal the game with a 21/14 win in the second set.
“Unfortunately I played against a solid young guy. Sri Lanka has a solid talent for the future.
For sure, I enjoyed the match. I will definitely get my revenge someday soon,” joked Anders after the game.
The match that began at 2:00pm, as a friendly and exhibition game between the Badminton World Federation (BWF) No.2 and No.66 ranked in Men’s Singles, came as an ideal opportunity for local badminton followers to witness a high-profile game.
Anders, who is on a brief break in-between his busy competition scheduled, has been in Sri Lanka since a few days, as he told reporters.
“Thank you for welcoming me here in Sri Lanka. Just enjoying the country, the lovely beaches and the friendly people,” the 28-year-old European Championship medallist said.
Viren, who otherwise played an improved game, was thrilled to play inside a local court in front of his own supporters, against a top ranked international shuttler with many medals under his belt.
“It’s a great experience playing against the World No.2 ranked, definitely a dream come true.
I should thank Sri Lanka Badminton and Ceylon Masters Badminton for providing me this opportunity,” stated the 21-year-old Viren after the game.
The exhibition game was made possible with the passionate commitment of local badminton stalwarts Sumith Guruge and Rohan de Silva, and with the collaboration of Sri Lanka Badminton.