Shuttlers leave for Los Angeles today

Kathmandu, August 25:

Shuttlers Balram Thapa, Pashupati Paneru and Sumina Shrestha are set to leave for the Los Angeles on Sunday to participate in the US Open Grand Prix slated for August 28 to September.

Apart from the singles, Thapa and Paneru will also team up in the men’s double and Paneru and Shrestha will participate in the mixed doubles. Member of the Nepal Badminton Association Bishnu Shrestha is the manager of the team.

Thapa is three-time singles national champion. Thapa won in 2003, 2005 and recently on Tuesday while Paneru won in 2002. Sumina claimed the women’s singles crown in 2002 and 2003.

“Ranking was taken into consideration while selecting the players,” said general secretary of the Nepal Badminton Association (NBA) Ramji Bahadur Shrestha. “Sumina is the top rank in the women’s field while Thapa and Paneru hold the top two rank in men’s field,” added Ramji. According to Ramji, the rankings are based on the players’ performance in four tournaments — National Tournament, Himalayan Badminton Championship, Krishna Mohan Memorial Badminton and Nepal Police Badminton Championship.

Member of the National Sports Council Laxman Shrestha bade farewell to the team here today.