Sri Lanka’s young badminton sensation, Ranithma Liyanage, delivered a commanding performance to win the Women’s Singles Under-19 title at the Yonex All England Junior Badminton Championships 2025, held at the University of Birmingham on Sunday.
Seeded second in the tournament and extensively supported by McLarens Holdings, Ranithma proved her class by cruising through the draw without dropping a single game.
In the final, Ranithma - the reigning Sri Lanka national champion who is ranked 109th in the world - overpowered England’s Aahna Bhatia (WR 1209) in straight sets, 21-11, 21-7, showcasing superior court control and tactical maturity.
A series of dominant victories marked her path to the championship.
After receiving a bye in the opening round, Ranithma made quick work of England’s Greta Choi, defeating her 21-9, 21-12.
She continued her momentum into the third round with a 21-15, 21-12 win over Portugal’s Mafalda Avelino.
In the quarter-final, she dismissed another local hopeful, Rajvi Parab, with a clinical 21-7, 21-12 victory.
The semi-final saw her face Ireland’s Michelle Shochan (WR 759), where Ranithma again asserted her authority, winning 21-15, 21-10 in just 31 minutes.
Ranithma's participation at the All England Junior Championships was fully sponsored by McLarens Holdings, whose generous support played a key role in enabling her international campaign.
This dominant run in Birmingham, against a field of 57 entries from across the world, marks a significant milestone in Ranithma’s career, further solidifying her status as Sri Lanka’s top female badminton star.