Kathmandu, November 17:

Puja Shrestha, Sara Devi Tamang, Sujana Shrestha and Sushmita Gurung advanced to the women’s singles semi-finals here at the fifth Krishna Mohan Memorial Nationwide Open Badminton Tournament today.

In the quarter-finals, Puja eased to a 21-7, 21-5 victory over Nery Thapa, who also happens to be a national cricket team skipper. Likewise, Sara Devi disposed of Sabina Panthi 21-5, 21-4; Sujana beat Mina Thapa 21-9, 21-13; and Sushmita beat Nangsal Devi Tamang.

In the men’s singles, Ram Singh Chaudhary, Pankaj Chand and Anil Lakhe won their second round matches. Singh beat Tirtha Malla 21-5, 21-8, Chand overcame Milan Kumar Rai 21-8, 21-2 and Lakhe defeated Anup Gurung 21-12, 21-4.

Also advancing in other men’s singles matches were Ratnajit Tamang, Rajan Shivakoti, Nawaraj Joshi, Narendra Thapa, Bhugol Gurung, Raju Paneru, Pravin Pun, Raju Maharjan, Mohammed Irfan Ansari, Basanta Bajracharya, Dinesh Rai, Vivek Shrestha, Bishal Pradhan, Narendra Thapa, Prakash Rai, Niroj Gurung, Indra Mahata, Prajwol Rana and Basanta Bajracharya.

Winners in the men’s doubles section include Bikash Shrestha/Nawaraj Joshi, Min KC/Bishnu Katawal, Pankaj Chand/Rajiv Dahal, Dipendra Shrestha/Mangal, Ratnajit Tamang/Vivek Shrestha, Rabi Udas/Manoj Gurung, Sajan Kumar Tamrakar/Rajan Shivakoti, Prakash Rai/Bimal Shrestha, and Srikant Dhungana/Sudip Budhathoki, Lakhman Tiwari/Anup Thapa, and Raju Paneru/Sahadev Khadka.

Birendra Gauchan, Sahadev Khadka, Bhugol Gurung, Anup Gurung and Bilal Waris also won their Under-19 boys’ singles matches.