LALITPUR: Saloni Pandey and Malisha Rana advanced to the women’s singles semi-finals in the first Athlete In Action (AIA) Open Tennis Championships at the Satdobato tennis court.

Saloni defeated Nabina Gurung 6-2, 6-2 and Malisha eased to a 6-0, 6-0 win over Ashwini Khand in the quarter-finals. Saloni and Malisha will battle it out for a place in the final. Also making it to the semi-finals in the women’s singles was Lindsey Sulevan. Sulevan dispatched Renu Bajracharya 6-1, 6-1 and will play Kalpana Thapa in the semi-final.

Sriyams Karki, Jac Tsai and Jarrod Epkey also made it to the quarter-finals in the men singles section. Sriyams saw off Ashok Singh 6-0, 6-2, Jac humiliated Amrit Rokka 6-0, 6-0 and Jarrod thrashed Baburam 6-0, 6-0.

Kamal Thapa, Manoj Shah, Gauri Shanker Shrestha, Rajesh Chhetri, Mahesh Shrestha and Sanu Gurung advanced to the quarter-finals in the veterans’ (above-35yrs) singles section. Held at

the Nepal APF headquarters in Halchowk, Kamal Thapa beat Anuj Arora

6-0, 6-0, Gauri Shanker hammered Gopal Manandhar 6-0, 6-0, Rajesh crushed Amrit Rokka, Mahesh overcame Jim Roselilies 6-1, 6-1 and Sanu Gurung defeated Tribhuvan Bista 6-0, 6-1.

The tournament features events in men and women’s singles, mixed doubles, veterans’ singles (above-35, above-45, above-55, above-65) and veteran doubles (above-35). The AIA is organising the tournament in cooperation with All Nepal Lawn Tennis Association. In all, 78 players including 11 ladies are vying for the championships.