The duo from Nepal Police Club won all four matches played Thursday. The winner of the event is likely to be decided after the last match to be played between them on Friday though they are yet to play three more matches. [break]
Under men´s section, top ranked Shiva Sundar Gothe´s winning streak came to an end while second seeded Ajay Suwal continued with his winning run to come two points clear in the event played at the National Table Tennis Training Center, Lainchour. However, the last day of the tournament is expected to decide the fate of winners where Suwal and Gothe will face each other.
Under women´s section, number one Shrestha maintained her pole position despite equal 32 points as that of Nembang on the basis of minimum numbers of set lost. Both have won 48 sets while Shrestha has lost three and Nembang nine sets in overall.
On Thursday, Shrestha beat Nitija Thapa 11-3, 11-5, 11-6, Rabina Desar 11-9, 10-12, 11-8, 11-5, Apekchya Shakya 11-4, 11-1, 13-11 and Rabina Shakya 11-8, 11-1, 11-3 respectively from 13th to 16th round.
Similarly, Nembang eased past Selisha Khadgi 11-9, 13-11, 11-9, Arati Thapa 11-5, 12-10, 11-7, but got tough fight from surprise package Kajol Rauniyar 4-11, 11-9, 13-11, 11-6 and beat Nitija Thapa 11-6, 9-11, 11-7, 11-3 respectively.
Fourth seeded Renuka Khatri of Kathmandu occupies third position with 30 points winning 15 matches and third ranked Elina Maharjan is in fourth place with 26 points. Maharjan has won 13 matches. Tenth seeded Kajol Rauniyar is in fifth place with 24 points.
In men´s section, Gothe, after playing 16 matches, has 30 points winning 15 and losing one while Suwal has 32 points winning all 16 matches.
Under men´s section, Gothe lost his first match of the day played against eighth seeded Deep Sanu of Nepal Police Club 3-2. Despite losing first two sets, Sanu made a dramatic comeback and claimed last three sets 11-7, 11-3, 11-9 respectively. Gothe had won the first and second set 12-10, 11-7. In other matches, Gothe had a hard fought 3-2 win over beat Amar Lal Malla scoring 11-9, 11-7, 7-11, 6-11, 11-9 in the 14th round, and in the 15th, Gothe toiled hard to beat Purushottam Bajracharya 11-5, 8-11, 7-11, 11-1, 11-3. In last match of the day, Gothe humiliated Ranjit Rayamajhi 11-7, 11-9, 11-3 respectively.
Suwal, in course of maintaining his unbeaten run, easily won initial three matches 3-0 but was forced to play four sets in the 16th round. Suwal eased past Chandra Thapa 11-7, 11-9, 11-7, Bibek Kakri 14-12, 11-6, 11-4, Surya Thapa 11-6, 11-5, 11-6 and Deep Sanu 11-3, 11-5, 9-11, 11-3 respectively.
Sixth seeded Purushottam Bajracharya of NRT occupies third place despite garnering equal 26 points as that of third seeded Rajendra Kapali of Lalitpur on the basis of head-to-head record. Both have won 13 and lost three matches each. Deep Saun is in fifth place with 24 points winning 12 matches.
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