KATHMANDU, June 19 : Top-ranked shuttlers Ratnajeet Tamang and Dipesh Dhami of Tribhuvan Army Club, Bishnu Katuwal of Nepal Police and Bikash Shrestha of Bhojpur secured men's singles semifinal berths on Sunday in the Fifth Pushpa Lal Memorial Ranking National Badminton Championship being held in the capital.
Nepal number one Ratnajeet registered a straight sets win over Joseph Adhikari of Armed Police Force (APF) to fix the semifinal meeting against Bishnu, who later edged past Beejeet Thapa of APF 21-19, 21-11. Dipesh of Army saw off Nabin Shrestha 21-7, 21-11 to fix the last four clash against Bikash of Bhojpur, who registered 21-16, 21-9 win over Sudeep Sedhai of APF 21-16, 21-9.
Ratnajeet, Dipesh leaving for China
Meanwhile, Army eves have confirmed all-Army semifinals in women's singles event. Nangsal Devi Tamang secured top finish in Group A winning all three league matches and Anumaya Rai finished second with twin wins. Jessica Gurung and Amita Giri made to the semifinal from Group B as winner and runner-up respectively. Nangsal will take on Amita and Jessica will lock horns with Anumaya for a place in the final.
Nangsal, the bronze medalist of the 12th South Asian Games, eased past her club-mate Anumaya 21-11, 21-12 during their last league match. Similalry, Jessica saw of Suanina Mukhiya 21-16, 21-15, Amita recorded a three-sets win over Shova Gauchan of APF 21-13, 19-21, 21-16 and Durga Bhandari of Dhangadhi beat Mega Chand of Army 21-18, 21-11 respectively.
Women's doubles saw Army pair of Nangsal and Amita Giri secure semifinal spot defeating Deena Pun and Jyoti Subba of Brothers Club 21-15, 21-13. Similarly, Sita Rai and Shova Gauchan's pair of APF beat Sunaina and Jessica's pair of Army 21-12, 21-11, Durga Bhandari (Kailali) and Suja Rai's (Lalitpur) pair beat Anumaya Rai and Megha Chand's pair of Army 21-18, 21-18 to book semifinal ticket. APF's Puja Shrestha and Beena Tulachan's pair also joined the semifinals with a 21-13, 21-10 win over Purnima Rai and Sangita Rai's pair of Lalitpur.
Ratnajeet Tamang and Nabin Shrestha's pair of Army, Joseph Adhikari and Suman Limbu's pair of APF, Bishal Pradhan and Bimal Shrestha's pair of APF, Bikash Shrestha (Bhojpur) and Ram Rai's (Lalitpur) pair were among the players to secure men's doubles semifinal berths.
