Lalitpur, May 17

Both Nepali teams advanced to the semi-finals of the South Asia Regional Qualifying for the ITF Asian U-12 Team Championship here at the Satdobato Tennis Complex today.

The boys’ team defeated Pakistan 3-0 to make it to the last four as Group B runners-up, while the girls’ side made it to the knockout stage after India defeated Maldives 3-0 in Group A.

In the boys’ singles match, Aarav Samrat Hada outplayed Bilal Asim 6-3, 6-3, while Aryan Giri saw off Hamid Israr 1-6, 6-0, 6-2. The pair of Hada and Giri also won doubles match, registering a 6-1, 6-1 victory over the Pakistani duo of Ahmed Maakin Muad and Mohamed Namiq Shahid.

Nepal, who lost to Bangladesh 2-1, had defeated Sri Lanka 2-1 in their previous group matches. Similarly, Bangladesh defeated all three opponents — Nepal, Pakistan and Sri Lanka—by identical 2-1 scoreline to top the group.

On Wednesday, Bangladesh’s Md Roman Hossain beat Sri Lankan opponent Vichithya Sarindu Nilaweera 6-4, 6-4 before Sri Lanka’s Wenuka Kithnula outplayed Zubaed Utsho 6-3, 6-0 in the singles matches. However, Bangladesh’s Mahadi Hasan Alve and Md Roman Hossain defeated the Sri Lankan duo of Anujaya Abeywickrama and Wenuka Kithnula 7-5, 6-0 in the doubles section.

Nepal will face Group A winners India and Bangladesh meet Group A runners-up Bhutan in the semi-finals.

India, who had defeated Bhutan in the previous round, produced a 3-0 victory over the Maldives to make it to the last four. India’s Nithis Baalaji Latha Nallusmy defeated Raudhak Maumoon 6-1, 6-0 and Ayushman Abjeria beat Mohamed Namiq Shahid 6-0, 6-0 in the singles matches. In the doubles category, the pair of Nallusamy and Krishang Raghuvanshi recorded a 6-1, 6-1 victory over the pair of Ahmed Maakin Muad and Mohamed Namiq Shahid.

Similarly, Bhutan had defeated Maldives 3-0 as the group comprised of three teams only. With the results, Sri Lanka, Pakistan and Maldives finished from fifth to seventh ranking respectively.

In the girls’ category, Nepal advanced to the semi-finals as Group A runners-up after India beat Maldives 3-0. Nepal had also defeated Maldives 3-0 before facing a 3-0 defeat against India, who topped the group.

India’s Sweta Samanta recorded a 6-0, 6-0 win against Layan Mohamed Shamin, while Anjali Rathi beat Zoya Zubin Saleen 6-0, 6-0. Likewise, the pair of Samanta and Shruti Ahlawat outplayed the duo of Aminath Azika Naseer and Layan Mohamed Shaimin 6-0, 6-0.

Nepal will now play against Group B winners Sri Lanka, while India are scheduled to meet Bangladesh.

Sri Lanka, who had defeated Bhutan 3-0, produced similar results against Bangladesh in their last group matches.

Dinethya Dharmarate saw off Sadia Afrin 6-0, 6-0 and Heshani Imanga outplayed Mashfia Afrin 6-0, 6-0 in the singles matches, while the pair of Dharmarate and Dewmini Warnasuriya defeated the duo of Mashfia Afrin and Sadia Afrin 6-3, 6-3. Bhutan and Maldives finished fifth and sixth respectively in the girls’ category.

Finalists from both the categories will qualify for the ITF Asian U-12 Team Championship which will be played in Kazakhstan in December.