KATHMANDU: Top-seed Puja Shrestha of Armed Police Force (APF) and Sara Devi Tamang of Tribhuvan Army Club (TAC) reached the women’s singles semi-finals of the National Open Badminton Tournament here today.

Held at the Nepal Police Club, Puja defeated Lina Shrestha 21-12, 21-10 while Tamang outplayed Mira Tamang of APF 21-10, 21-8. Joining them in the semi-finals were Sujana Shrestha and Sabina Panthi of APF. Sujana edged past Nary Thapa of Banke 21-9 and 21-3 while Sabina secured a hard-fought 21-13, 19-21, 23-21 win over Nangsala Devi Tamang of Bhojpur.

In the men’s singles third round matches in Halchowk, top-seed Bikash Shrestha of Nepal Police Club (NPC), Ram Singh Chaudhary of Kailali and Indra Mahata of APF entered the pre-quarterfinals. Bikash defeated Raju Maharjan of Nepal Electricity Authority (NEA) 21-11, 21-5 while Chaudhary and Mehta got walkover wins. Pankaj Chand of APF also advanced to the men’s singles pre-quarterfinals after Laxman Chand retired after losing the first set 21-13. Sahadev Khadka of Kailali, Bishal Pradhan

and Rajan Shiwakoti of APF, Dinesh Rana and Kishor Rana of NPC and Ratnajit Tamang of Bhojpur also made it through to the pre-quarterfinals.

In the women’s doubles, Puja Shrestha and Sujana Shrestha, Sita Dahal and Sabina Panthi, Bina Tulachan and Sara Devi Tamang entered the quarter-finals along with the pair of Ratna Rai and Nirmala Magar.

Hemanta Pal and Surendra Bahadur Singh, Ramesh Kharel and Min K.C reached men’s doubles pre-quarterfinals. Making it to the

veterans’ doubles quarter-finals were the pairs of

Ganesh Thapa and Suresh Shrestha, Shankar Bahadur Singh and Rupal Shumsher Rana, and Sunil Kheta and Bhupendra Khati.

In the U-16 boys’ singles, Bilal Waris saw off Bishal Moktan 21-13, 21-15 to

reach the quarter-finals along with Sachin Gurung and Sabin Gurung. Sabin

defeated Shailesh Dahal 21-13, 21-7 while Sachin received a walkover win. Meanwhile, Purnima Gurung, Karishma Shrestha, Manila Shrestha and Anita Raut won their respective matches to reach the U-16 girls’ singles quarter-finals.