David Pieris Group made history by becoming champions in all five events in the Open category at the 40th MBA Novices Badminton Championship 2024.
The tournament included the Men’s Singles where Chethaka Kumarasiri triumphed from among 128 players.
In the Men’s Doubles, Chathuranga Meegahawatte and Chethaka Kumarasiri emerged victorious. Lakhini Shashibhani secured first place in the Women’s Singles while in the Girls’ Doubles, Shashibhani and Malshi Fernando claimed the top spot.
In the Mixed Doubles event, Meegahawatte and Shashibhani won the championship, making the David Pieris Group the overall winner of the tournament in the Open category.
A highlight of the event was Shashibhani receiving the ‘Triple Crown’ for winning three events in her respective categories.
This year’s Novices tournament featured 40 participating companies with over 300 players competing on behalf of their organisations. The achievement by David Pieris Group marks the first time in history that a single conglomerate secured all five championships in the Open category.
The landmark victory follows a series of successes for the David Pieris Group badminton team. In the 39th MBA Inter-Firm Team Championship 2023, they won the Men’s ‘D’ Division and the Mixed ‘D’ Division, were runners-up in the Women’s ‘D’ Division and secured the second runner-up position in the Veterans ‘C’ Division. Additionally, they were champions in the Bowl Category at the 11th MBA Inter-Firm Doubles Team Championship 2023.
David Pieris Group claimed victory in ‘The Smashes Corporate Team Championship’ organized by the University of Sri Jayewardenepura in May and the ‘Corporate Team Championship’ organized by the University of Moratuwa in April.
The David Pieris Group has consistently supported the development of sports among schools and the mercantile sector and presently, David Pieris Group teams actively participate in various sports tournaments related to mercantile cricket, athletics, volleyball, hockey, basketball, netball, swimming and badminton.
