Dhami, Gauchan lose in final; India reign supreme

Kathmandu, December 24

Nepali pair of Dipesh Dhami and Shova Gauchan faced a straight set loss in the mixed doubles final of the Yonex Sunrise Nepal International Series here at the National Sports Council covered hall today.

Dhami and Gauchan, who had won gold medal in the Pakistan International Series earlier this year, went down 21-15, 21-7 against Indian duo of Vighnesh Devlekar and Harika Veludurthi. The Nepali pair put up a brave fight in the first set and had also opened up a 7-5 lead at one stage but they surrendered in the second set after Dhami could not keep the momentum going.

Indian shuttlers dominated the championship claiming three out of five gold medals on offer, while Singapore and Hong Kong took one each. India’s Shreyansh Jaiswal won the men’s singles  title. He defeated fellow Indian shuttler Lakhanee Sarang 21-10, 21-10 in

the final.

Hong Kong’s Deng Joy Xuan claimed women’s event gold medal with a 21-12, 21-5 victory over Soraya Aghaeihajiagha of Iran. Likewise, Singaporean duo of Danny Chrisnanta and Hee Yong Kai Terry won the men’s doubles gold medal when they registered a hard-fought 22-20, 14-21, 21-16 victory over Malaysia’s Jien Sern Ian Wong and Chee Tean Tan.

India claimed their third gold medal in the women’s doubles category. Arpana Balal and Sruthi KP defeated the pair of Harika Veludurthi and Karishma Wadkar 21-8, 21-9 in the all-India final.

National Sports Council Member Secretary and President of Nepal Badminton Association Ramji Bahadur Shrestha among others handed over the prizes to the winners of the championship. Players from 19 nations took part in the tournament.