Biratnagar, February 18
Prince Dahal and Praful Maharjan advanced to the final of the Li-Ning 12th Pushpalal Memorial National Ranking Badminton Tournament here today.
Nepal Police Club shuttler Dahal defeated Tribhuvan Army Club's Rukesh Maharjan 21-9, 21-17 in the men's singles semi-finals of the competition for the top 16 ranked players. He will face another TAC shuttler Praful Maharjan, who beat NPC's Bishnu Katuwal 21-18, 21-7 in another semi-final match. The two had also met in the final of the first Chief Minister Sagarmatha National Ranking Badminton Tournament in Itahari recently with Dahal emerging victorious.
In the women's singles category for top 12 shuttlers, Nepal APF Club's Jessica Gurung and TAC's Anu Maya Rai entered the final. Gurung defeated national champion Rasila Maharjan 14- 21, 21-16, 21-12, while Rai beat fellow TAC shuttler Prathana Deuba 21-12, 21-11.
In the men's competition for outside top 16 players, Pabin Linthep of TAC and Sujan Thapa of APF advanced to the final with wins over their teammates.
Linthep defeated Himal Chand 21-19, 13-21, 21-19, while Thapa beat Pranish Singh Thakuri 21- 18, 17-21, 21-6 in the semi-finals.
Likewise, TAC's Bishna Bista and Anjana Rai of Jhapa advanced to the final in the women's category for outside top 12 shuttlers. Bista defeated Panchthar's Rina Tamang 21-15, 21- 13, whereas Rai beat TAC's Tisha Rani Shakya 21-6, 21-13.
APF's Bijit Thapa Magar and NPC's Jeevan Acharya entered the men's doubles final and they will face NPC duo Bishnu Katuwal and Prince Dahal.
APF's Shova Gauchan and NPC's Nita Lamsal made it to the final in women's doubles along with TAC's Prathana Deuba and Anu Maya Rai. Also, APF's Roshan Saud set the U-17 boys' section final with TAC's Anil Malla, while TAC shuttlers Rihana Sherchan and Tisha Rani Shakya made it to final in girls' section. Sanjay Kapali and Shyam Lama of Kathmandu entered the above-45 doubles final and they will face Rajesh Gurung of Kaski and Anil Lakhe of Banke, while Ram Raja Angdambe and Sanjay Bhaktaraj of Panchthar made it to above-55 section final along with Ramesh Bhattachan of Kaski and Deepak Rai of Khotang. The finals are slated for Sunday.
A version of this article appears in the print on February 19, 2023, of The Himalayan Times.
