Kathmandu, December 20

Nepali shuttlers Sunil Joshi, Prince Dahal and Jessica Gurung qualified for the main draw of the Yonex Sunrise Nepal International Badminton Series here at the National Sports Council covered hall today.

In men’s second qualifying round, Joshi beat Jamyang Tenzing of Bhutan 21-8, 21-4, while Dahal earned a walkover win from Ariful Islam Tuhin of Bangladesh.

However, Nir Bikram Devkota suffered a 21-18, 21-15 defeat against Yash Yogi of India, Bikash Shrestha went down to Aung Myo Htoo Myo of Myanmar 21-14, 21-13, Bibek Shrestha was beaten by Kirtesh Dhindwal 21-7, 21-8, Bilal Waris went down to Rahul Bharadwaj 21-11, 21-4 and Jivan Acharya faced a 21-17, 21-16 defeat against Sai Wuu Phet of Myanmar.

Similarly, India’s Akash Thakur earned a walkover win from Yi Xin Chew of Malaysia, Anant Shivam Jindal beat Wisa Srisuriya of Thailand 21-12, 21-13,  Karan Chaudhary got walkover from Hari Prasad Dhungyel of Bhutan, Sandeep Pefumalla saw off Joshuua Jian Min Khong of Australia 21-14, 21-13 and Harsha Jagdhane outplayed Rajkumar Perumala of Malaysia 21-10, 21-9.

Myanmar’s Arkar Phone Myat earned a walkover win from Satish Naidu Jagata of India and made it to the finals draw.

In women’s qualifying round, Jessica Gurung defeated Thinley Wangmo of Bhutan 21-7, 21-8 to make it for the finals draw.

However, Samjhana Sharma went down to Deng Joy Xuan of Hong Kong 21-2, 31-8 and Poonam Gurung faced a 21-17, 21-14 defeat against Khusi Gupta of India. Another Indian shuttler Vidhu Nair beat Rashila Maharjan 19-21, 25-23, 22-20 and Sita Rai was beaten by Pranali Karani of India 21-9, 31-15.

Similarly, Iran’s Fatemeh Babaei beat Rinzing Wangmo of Bhutan 21-13, 21-13 and Kanika Kanwal of India saw off Eden Eden of Bhutan 21-6, 21-3.

In men’s doubles qualifying round, the pair of Sunil Joshi and Gautam Kathayat beat Indian duo of Harsh Jagdhane and Nihar Kelkar 21-16, 23-21 and qualified for the finals, while Jivan Acharya and Praful Maharjan went down 23-21, 21-14 to India pair of Vaibhaav and Vasantha Kumar.

Also, Indian pair of Vembarasan Vegkatachalam and Lokesh Viswanathan saw off Bhutan’s Anish Gurung and Jamyang Tenzin 21-9, 21-8, Myanmar’s Arkar Phone Myat and Hein Si Thu Toe beat Bhutanese pair of Karma Chendu and Tshewang Lhendup Tshering 21-6, 23-21 to take berths for the main draw.