Dahal shines with double Gold in South Asian badminton

By A Staff Reporter

Kathmandu, Apr. 9: Nepal’s top shuttler, Prince Dahal, captured two gold medals at the Badminton Asia–South Asian Regional Championship held in Islamabad, Pakistan, from 1–7 April.

In the men’s singles final, Dahal defeated Pakistan’s Abdul Manan Raj 21–11, 9–21, 21–5 to secure the title. He then partnered Rasila Maharjan in the mixed doubles, where the Nepali duo overcame Pakistan’s Raja Hassan Mujtaba and Ammarah Ishtiaq 21–14, 21–13 in the final. 

Earlier, they cruised past Muhammad Zaid and Sana Hanif 21–13, 21–10 in the semi-final, and edged out Rai Abdul Manan and Umama Usman 19–21, 21–13, 21–18 in the quarter-final.

In the men’s doubles, Dahal teamed up with Kshitiz Khanal to win silver. The Nepali pair lost the final to Bangladesh’s Nazmul Islam Joy and Sifat Ullah 21–15, 18–21, 21–14, after defeating Pakistan’s Umar Jehangir and Abdul Manan Rai 21–16, 21–18 in the semi-final.

In the women’s singles, both Maharjan and Sheshna Sirpali finished third. Maharjan lost her semi-final to Pakistan’s Alja Tariq 21–18, 25–23, having earlier beaten Umama Usman 21–17, 21–18 in the quarter-final and Bhutan’s Kunzang Choidon 21–7, 21–7 in the group stage. 

She also fell to Ammarah Ishtiaq 13–21, 18–21 in the round robin. Sirpali, meanwhile, lost her semi-final to Ishtiaq 21–15, 21–4 after receiving a bye in the quarter-final.

In the women’s doubles, Maharjan and Sirpali reached the semi-final but were beaten by Pakistan’s Sana Hanif and Tariq 21–19, 14–21, 1–21.

Nepal also claimed silver in the mixed team event, with Dahal, Khanal, Maharjan and Sirpali combining to secure the runners-up spot.