Sports
Thai on course to win four titles
Thailand is on course to win four out of five gold medals on offer in the Yonex sunrise Nepal International Series badminton championship after the semi-finals round completed in Halchowk on Friday.Thailand is on course to win four out of five gold medals on offer in the Yonex sunrise Nepal International Series badminton championship after the semi-finals round completed in Halchowk on Friday.
The mixed doubles final and men’s doubles final will be an all-Thailand affair, meaning the country is certain to clinch two gold medals. One Thailand shuttler each also made it to the men’s and women’s singles final. Supak Jomkoh and Supissara Paewsampran of Thailand combined to beat Danny Bawa Chrisnanta and Tan Wei Han of Singapore 21-19, 18-21, 21-18 in the mixed doubles semi-final match. In another last four clash, Panachai Worasaktayanan and Pitchayanin Ungka eased past Indian pair Raju Kohamed Rehan and J Anees Kowsar 21-18, 21-14.
In the men’s doubles semi-finals, Writ Sarapart and Worasaktayana defeated Hemanth M Gowda and Madhusudan Madappa of India 21-17, 21-15, while Supak Jomkoh and Wachirawit Sothon saw off another Indian pair V Hanumaiah Ranganatha and Ashith Surya 20-22, 21-17, 21-19.
Kunlavut Vitidsarn of Thailand set the men’s singles championship clash with Teck Zhi Shoo of Malaysia. Vitidsarn saw off Kaushal Dharmamer of India 21-17, 21-16 while Shoo overcame Dinuka Karunaratha, also of India, 21-14, 21-18.
Chananchida Jucharoen of Thailand set the women’s singles title clash with Thet Htar Thuzar of Myanmar. Jucharoen beat Rashi Tyagi of India, who retired trailing 21-4, 21-3, while Thuzar got the better of Soraya Aghaeihajiaagha of Iran 21-17, 21-15.
The only event that do not feature Thai shutters is the women’s doubles where Sri Lanka and India made it to the final. Lankans Thilini Pramodika Hendahewa and Kavidi Sirimannage battled to a 21-15, 19-21, 22-20 win over Soraya (Iran) and Thuzar (Myanmar). Arpana Balan and Shuthi KP teamed up to defeat Aminath Nabeeha Abdul Razzaq and Fathimath Nabaaha Abdul Razzaq of Maldives 21-9, 21-11.
Nepali shuttlers’ challenge ended at the quarter-finals stages of the tournament— the third tier programme of the World Badminton Federation (BWF) after the top-tier BWF Super Series and Grand Prix Gold & Grand Prix. In all 178 players—117 in men’s and 61 in women’s catergories—from 20 nations were in fray for five championship titles.