Sports
Ratnajit advances into last eight
Ratnajit Tamang made easy passage into the quarter-finals of the Yonex Sunrise Nepal International Series on Wednesday but four local women shuttlers including Nepal No 1 Nangshal Devi Tamang crashed out.Sports Bureau
Ratnajit Tamang made easy passage into the quarter-finals of the Yonex Sunrise Nepal International Series on Wednesday but four local women shuttlers including Nepal No 1 Nangshal Devi Tamang crashed out.
On the second day at the Nepal Armed Police Force headquarters in Halchowk, Nepal No 1 Ratnajit left behind Tuesday’s struggling three-set victory over India’s Dhruv Kumar to beat another Indian shuttler Naveen with a come from behind victory. Ratnajit lost the first set 20-22 and came back strong in the next two sets winning 21-17, 21-16.
Ratnajit had earlier eased to a Tejraj Pulto of Mauritius 21-9, 21-8 in the pre-quarterfinals. Meanwhile there was disappointment for rest of the men’s singles players after other top players Dipesh Dhami, Nabin Shrestha and Bikash Shrestha all crashed out. Bikash lost to Cao Cuon Pham of Vietnam 21-14, 21-15 in the last 16 match after defeating his compatriot Jivan Acharya 21-14, 19-21, 21-18. Bijit Thapa Magar lost to Aussie shuttler Anthony Joe 21-16, 21-14 in pre-quarterfinals. It was preceded by a 21-10, 21-13 victory over Karma Chendru of Bhutan.
Dhami’s journey ended in the round of 32 going down to Teck Zi Soo of Malaysia 18-21, 21-18, 21-15 and Nabin lost to Kunlavut Vitidsran of Thailand 20-22, 21-13, 21-12. Prince Dahal also crashed out following a 21-17, 21-13 loss against Le Duc Phat of Vietnam, while India’s Ameya Oak overcame Praful Maharjan 21-18, 22-20.
Amita Giri and Rashila Maharjan handed Nepal a place in the women’s doubles beating Thinley Dema and Phuntsho Choden Thing of Bhutan 21-8, 21-16. The biggest disappointment came in the women’s singles round of 32 match where Nangshal lost 21-14, 21-16 to Soraya Aghaeihajiaagha of Iran. Jessica Gurung was beaten 21-11, 21-7 by Rashi Tyagi of India and Anu Maya Rai lost to Thet Htar Thuzar of Myanmar 21-6, 21-10.
It was altogether a bad day for Nangshal after she lost the women’s doubles and mixed doubles matches. She combined with her brother Ratnajit and lost to Panchai Worasaktayanan and Pitchayanin Unka of Thailand 21-13, 21-13 in the mixed doubles. The former Nepal No 1 Pooja Shrestha teamed up with Nangshal in the women’s double but went down to Indian pair of Aparna Balan and Shruthi KP 21-14, 21-19 in the last 16.
Anu Maya Rai and Sita Rai lost to Aktar Shapla and Alina Sultana of Bangladesh 21-14, 21-18, while Shova Gauchan and Poonam Gurung were beaten by Thilini Pramodika Hendahew and Kavidi Sirimannage of Sri Lanka 21-6, 21-8.