Mahendranagar, January 17

Tribhuvan Army Club’s Ratnajit Tamang and Nepal APF Club’s Dipesh Dhami advanced to men’s singles the pre-quarters of the National Badminton Tournament here today.

Tamang defeated Dipesh Shakya of Central Region 21-7, 21-8 and will meet Nir Bikram Devekota, who defeated Sahroj Ansari of Mid-western Region 21-7, 21-8.

Dhami beat Far-west’s Devraj Rana 21-10, 21-10 and set a meeting with TAC’s Rukesh Maharjan, a 21-9, 21-10 winner over Bilash Baris of Mid-western Region.

In other matches, TAC’s Pabin Linthep outplayed Bhugol Gurung of Western 21-17, 9-21, 23-21, APF’s Sajan Krishna Tamrakar beat Irfan Ansari of Mid-western 21-9, 21-11, and Prince Dahal of Far-western outplayed Sujan Shrestha of Eastern 21-14, 21-14 to make it to the last 16.

Also, NPC’s Deepak Bohara recorded a 21-6, 21-9 win against Bishal Khadka of Western and TAC’s Praful Maharjan outplayed APF’s Suman Limbu 25-23, 21-8. Likewise, TAC’s Nabin Shrestha, APF’s Bijit Thapa and Gautam Kathayet, NPC’s Jeevan Acharya, Eastern’s Bikash Shrestha and Far-west’s Sanjeev Khadka also advanced to the pre-quarters.

In women’s singles, TAC’s Nangshal Devi Tamang defeated Tara Ale of Central 21-3, 21-3 to advance to the quarter-finals. Tamang’s TAC teammates Anumaya Rai beat Central’s Sophi Khatri 21-11, 21-19 and Amita Giri beat Mid-western’s Durga Sharma 21-14, 21-9.

Sunaina Mukhiya saw off her Eastern Region teammate Sima Rajbanshi 21-8, 21-12, APF’s Shova Gauchan saw off Mid-western’s Samjhana Sharma 21-10, 22-20 and Shiksha Shrestha of APF beat Central’s Shreya Pradhan 21-9, 21-8.

Also, Eastern’s Jessica Gurung beat APF’s Sita Rai 21-14, 21-6 and Eastern’s Nita Lamsal outplayed TAC’s Rashila Maharjan 21-17, 4-21, 22-20 to make it to the last eight.

Meanwhile, TAC defeated NPC 3-0 and APF saw off Far-western 3-0 in men’s team event semi-finals, while TAC defeated Far-western 2-0 and APF outplayed Eastern 2-0 in women’s semi-final matches.