KATHMANDU, Nov 16: Tribhuvan Army Club’s Ratnajit Tamang, Nabin Shrestha and Rukesh Maharjan have advanced into the semifinals of the ongoing Yonex Sunrise eighth Pushpalal Memorial National Open Badminton Tournament on Thursday.
In the men’s singles category played at the National Sports Council (NSC)’s Covered Hall in Tripureshwar, Tamang defeated Nepal Police Club’s Nir Bikram Devkota 21-17, 21-18 to reach the last four. Ratnajit will now play against Maharjan, who defeated Police’s Bishnu Katuwal 21-16, 21-19.
Also, in the same category, Army’s Shrestha who saw off Bhojpur’s Bikash Shrestha 21-19, 21-11 to reach the semifinals. Shrestha will take on Armed Police Force (APF) Club’s Deepesh Dhami, who overcame Silk Group’s Prince Dahal 21-16, 22-20.
Likewise, in women’s singles, Army’s Nangsal Devi Tamang defeated Banke’s Samjhana Sharma 21-12, 21-8.
Tamang, Dhami into last eight of Pushpalal Open Badminton
Tamang will now face APF’s Shobha Gauchan, who overcame Army’s Anu Maya Rai 21-17, 21-19.
Also, Army’s Rasila Maharjan beat Ranjana Bhattarai 21-14, 21-13 to reach the last four and now will take on APF’s Jessica Gurung, who got past Army’s Amita Giri 19-21, 21-15, 21-11 to reach the semifinals.
In boys’ U-17 category, Silk Group’s Dahal defeated Kailali’s Jeby Saud 21-7, 21-9 to reach the last four, while JEST’s Priyanshu Singh Chhetri saw off Dang’s Himansu Kunwar 21-11, 21-18. Also, Army’s Diwas Shankar beat Kailali’s Amrit Chaudhary 19-21, 21-11, 21-13, while JEST’s Pemba Sherpa overcame Kanchanpur’s Himal Chand 21-11, 21-13 to reach the last four.
In men’s doubles, the departmental teams dominated as well. APF’s Dhami and Bijit Thapa Magar along with Gautam Kathayat and Sunil Joshi reached the semifinals.
The pair of Dhami and Magar defeated Police’s Deepak Bohora and Jeevan Acharya 21-16, 21-17, while the pair of Kathayat and Joshi beat Banke’s Irfan Ansari and Riyaj Ansari 21-15, 21-16 to secure their semifinals berths.
Likewise, Army’s Rukesh Maharjan and Praphul Maharjan along with Ratnajit and Nabin Shrestha secured their semifinals berths. The Maharjan pair defeated APF’s Sajan Krishna Tamrakar and Sudeep Sedhain 21-16, 21-17, while the other Army pair overcame Police’s Katuwal and Anish Shrestha 21-17, 22-20.
In women’s doubles, Army’s Anu Maya Rai and Amita Guru reached the semifinals along with APF’s Puja Shrestha and Jessica Gurung.
Rai and Giri defeated JEST’s Jyoti Limbu and Dina Pun 21-15, 21-12, while the APF pair saw off JEST’s Smriti Rai and Safi Khatri 21-7, 21-5. Likewise, Army’s Nangsal Tamang and Rasila Maharjan along with Bhojpur and Banke’s Sita Rai and Samjhana Sharma.
The Army pair got past JEST’s Tara Ale and Manisha Khadka 21-8, 21-4, while Rai and Sharma beat Morang’s Seema Rajbanshi and Rose Pandey 21-89, 21-14.
