Kathmandu, April 3

Top seeded players began the 12th Nationwide Krishna Mohan Memorial Open Badminton Tournament and eighth Sahabir Memorial Open Lawn Tennis Tournament here today.

Nepal APF shuttlers fared well on the opening day in men’s singles section. Pankaj Chand defeated Bishal Tamang from Sunsari 21-10, 21-13, while Indra Mahata beat Bodh Raj Shrestha from Dhanusha 21-5, 21-11.

Likewise, Surendra Budhathoki edged past Biru KC from Nawalparasi 21-17, 21-18, Suman Limbu routed Roman Shah from Bara 21-8, 21-9, Joseph Adhikari defeated Pranis Singh Thakuri from Jhapa 21-9, 21-7, and Tirtha Malla outplayed Diwas Sunuwar 21-7, 21-11. In other matches, Sujan Shrestha from Sunsari thumped Ashish Bhattarai from Jhapa 21-6, 21-11, Irfan Ansari from Banke beat Santosh Kumar Katuwal from Mahottari 21-10, 21-10, Jeevab Acharya from Khotang registered a hard-fought 21-18, 19-21, 21-11 win over Mahendra Dhakal of APF, while Minel Gurung, Rupak Thing and Man Kumar Limbu earned walkover wins.

In men’s doubles section, APF’s Subash Dahal/Thir Bahadur Karki beat Omuni Bajracharya/Suresh Bajracharya from Kirtipur 21-15, 21-17, Minesh Gurung/Man Kumar Limbu from Taplejung beat Kamal Kumar Shrestha/Rudra Bahadur Thing of APF 17-21, 21-13, 21-13, APF’s Mahendra Dhakal/Surendra Budhathoki beat Amar Lawati/Mohan Karki from Kathmandu 21-15, 21-10, Bishal Tamang/Sujan Shrestha from Sunsari edged past Biru KC/Kebal KC 15-21, 21-13,21-8 and Ramesh Shrestha/Tirtha Malla beat Dipendra Basnet/Ramesh Mahatra from Sindhuli 21-10,21-15.

Also advancing were Kanchan Singh Thakuri/Sanjib Khadka from Kailali, Ram Lama/Sanjib Sedai of APF, Bhimsen Lama/Sajan Shrestha from Ramechhap, Ajay Shrestha/Bishal Khadka from Sunsari, Arjun Rai/Dip Chandra Rai from Budhanilkantha, Ritesh Raj Shrestha/Dutta Thapa from Kathmandu, Bal Bahadur Tamang/Makar Bista from Nepal Police Club, Santosh Katuwal/Sunil Pariyar from Shaptari, Nabin Shrestha/Sagar Dangol of APF, Narayan Das Shrestha/Bhuwan Shrestha from Ramechhap, Dharma Raj Gurung/Kumar Gurung of APF, Bishal Kumar Rai/Hem Raj Rai from Khotang and Ram Lama/Sandip Sedai of APF.

In tennis, Ani Mathema beat Khusi Pandey 6-1, 6-0, Bhagwati BK edged past Salani Tamang 6-3, 4-6, 7-5, Ganga Sharma thumped Anushka Malla 6-0, 6-1 and Mahika Rana bagged a double bagel against Rayena Shah in women’s singles first round matches.

In men’s singles, Anil Chhetry beat Bibek Shrestha 6-1, 6-3, Raj Kumar Lama edged past Rishi Ram Sigdel 6-4, 6-1, Pranav Khanal defeated Abhinav Acharya 6-1, 6-3, Samrakchyan Bhusan Bajracharya thumped Ranjan Shrestha 6-0, 6-4, Bikash Khadka routed Bhrama Umenin 6-0, 6-0, Aabes Bahadur Malla thrashed Naresan Malla 6-0, 6-0 and Samyak Bhusan Bajracharya came from a set down to register a 3-6, 6-2, 6-0 win over Nabin Shrestha. Sakchyam Karki and Krishna Magar earned walkover wins.

In above-35 veteran section, Anuj Arora defeated Mukti Seni Gurung 6-1, 6-2, Raj Shrestha thumped Madhav Thapa 6-0, 6-0, and Aashish Magar beat Krishna Magar 6-1, 6-4. Also, Suman Khatri, Ranjan Shrestha, Pratap Moktan won their first-round matches. In government service holders singles, Jitendra Khadka, Niranjan Shrestha, Uttam Bogati and Cesear Gurung registered victories. Earlier, acting IGP of Armed Police Force Durja Kumar Rai inaugurated the tournaments. A total of 357 players are competing in 11 events in badminton, while 257 players are taking part in tennis tournament that features 13 events.