Himalayan News Service

Kathmandu, July 26:

None of the Nepali players secceeded in qualifying at the 11th Asian Junior Table Tennis Championship, which is being held at Talkatora Indoor Stadium in New Delhi. Amar Lal Malla, who defeated Priyadarshana Sajith of Sri Lanka 11-7, 2-11, 14-12, 11-8 in boys’ singles first round match, lost in the second round to Chou Tung Yu of Taipei 8-11, 6-11, 3-11. Deep Saun, who had lost to Wan Sio Chun of Macau 11-3, 11-3, 11-7 in an earlier clash, fell again to Lin Chen of China in straight sets of 11-8, 11-7, 11-8. In girls’ match, Kumaresan Shamini outplayed Rita Prajapati of Nepal 11-4, 11-6, 11-4. Prajapati also lost to Li Ho Ching of Hong Kong 4-11, 3-11, 11-8, 5-11. Pujan Shrestha also faltered in her round and lost to Hsiung Nai Yi of Taipei 3-11, 4-11, 6-11. Pujan was later beaten by a Japanese 5-11, 0-11, 5-11. Nepal also did not qualify in the team events of the Asian championship after both the boys’ and the girls’ teams failed to enter the finals in the 11th SAF Junior Table Tennis Championshiop that concluded on July 23. Nepal won two bronze medals after both the teams finished third, while all the six players failed to win any medal in individual sections of the SAF-level championship.

Nepal had won two team event bronze medals in the earlier edition of the tournament, also held in India.