Int\\\'l Badminton begins in city

The Yonex-Sunrise Bangladesh Open International Badminton Challenge 2014, organised by Bangladesh Badminton Federation (BBF), began Tuesday at the Shaheed Suhrawardy National Indoor Stadium in city's Mirpur, reports UNB.
Deputy Minister for Youth and Sports Arif Khan Joy inaugurated the five- day meet in the morning.
Chaired BBF President Rubaba Dowla, the opening ceremony was also attended by Sabbir Hasan of Roxy Paints and DS Fazal Hyder of Exim Bank.
Seventy-eight (78) players, including- 32 women from eleven (11) countries, are taking part in the five event meet-men's singles, men's doubles, women's singles, women's doubles, and mixed doubles.
The participating countries are India, Malaysia, Indonesia, Iran, Nepal, Maldives, Croatia, Syria, Turkey, Sri Lanka and hosts Bangladesh.
Twenty shuttlers, including four women, are representing hosts Bangladesh in the international rating tournament with the participation of some World and Asian ranking players. The tournament offers prize money of US$ 15,000.
Seven men's singles and five women's singles matches were decided on the first day (Tuesday) when the last report was received.
In the men's singles, Subhankar Dey (India) beat Saleh Ahmed Shyamol (Bangladesh) by 21-6, 21-5 points; Mohammad Arif Hossain (Bangladesh) beat Sajan Krishna Tamrakra (Nepal) 21-14 21-11; June Wei Cheam (Malaysia) defeated Mohammad Raisuddin (Bangladesh) 21-8, 21-16; Mohammad Minhaz (Bangladesh) beat Indra Mehata (Nepal) 21-16, 21-17; Joo Ven Soong (Malaysia) got walkover against Ankit Chikara (India); Ayman Ibn Zaman (Bangladesh) defeated Nasheeu Sharafuddeen (Maldives) 21-6, 21-15 while Ratnajit Tamang (Nepal) beat Moazzem Hossain (Bangladesh) 21-17, 21-14.
In the women's singles, Elina Sultana (Bangladesh) beat Meena Shrestha (Nepal) 21-8, 21-3 points: Achininimeshika Rathnasir Kapuru (Sri Lanka) defeated Rehena Parvin (Bangladesh) 21-8, 21-7; Brishti Khatun (Bangladesh) got walkover.