Local pairs power into Yonex-Sunrise quarters

Riding on their strong showing at the Yonex Canadian International Challenge earlier this month, Al-Amin Jumar and Moajjam Hossain Ohidul continued their impressive form to reach the quarterfinals of the men's doubles at the ongoing Yonex-Sunrise Bangladesh International Challenge yesterday.

The day also saw a surprise success as the unheralded pairing of Mashud Ahmed and Sadakat Robin Asfaq booked a place in the quarterfinals with a win over a Malaysian pair at the Shaheed Tajuddin Ahmed Indoor Stadium in Paltan, Dhaka. They had earlier received a walkover in the Round of 32 on Wednesday.

Other Bangladeshi shuttlers, however, failed to match their progress, exiting across the men's doubles, women's doubles and mixed doubles events.

Top-seeded Jumar and Ohidul came into the event buoyed by a bronze-medal finish at the Canadian International Challenge earlier this month. After receiving a bye in the round of 32, the Bangladeshi pair were tested by India's Devvart Mann and Sourbh Naim.

Jumar and Ohidul edged the opening game 21-19 before the Indians levelled the match with a 21-17 win. The hosts then sealed the decider 21-14, despite Ohidul sustaining an injury in the final game.

"We have just entered into the quarterfinals but still long way to go," Ohidul said. "We could not play the final in Canadian International Challenge but this time we want to win gold medal in home."

Replying to a query, he added, "Having played together for a long time, we have a good understanding among us. We will also play the semifinals for the victory whoever comes to our way."

Mashud and Asfaq, who train at the Alora Shuttler Academy in Dinajpur, dropped the opening game 21-14 but showed resilience to turn the match around, winning the next two games 21-14 and 21-17 to register an unexpected victory over their higher-ranked opponents.

Elsewhere, Rahatun Nayem and Mizanoor Rahman went down 2-1 to India's Swastik Matharasan and Gokul Sureshkumar in the men's doubles, while Sifat Ullah and Bristi Khatun lost 2-1 to an Indian pair in the mixed doubles.

In the women's doubles, Dalia Rahman and Mithila Bishwas were beaten 2-0 by a British pair, and Reshma Akter and Bristi Khatun suffered a 2-1 defeat to an Indian duo.