Hosts endure winless opening day

The Yonex-Sunrise Bangladesh International Series got underway on Monday at the Shaheed Tajuddin Ahmed Indoor Stadium, but it proved to be a disappointing opening day for the host nation, with Bangladeshi shuttlers failing to register a single on-court victory.

Bangladesh featured in both men’s and women’s singles events, yet all players exited in the opening round. The only progression came in the qualification stage, where star shuttler Ayman Ibn Jaman advanced after his opponent failed to appear. Notably, none of Bangladesh’s top-seeded players were in action on the first day of competition.

Hope now rests on several local players scheduled to compete on Tuesday, including Al Amin Jumar, Urmi Akter, Moajjam Hossain Ohidul and Ayman Ibn Jaman, as Bangladesh looks to turn its fortunes around.

In the women’s singles, Zarin Iqbal Mohona began the hosts’ campaign but was comprehensively beaten by Vietnam’s Nguyen Thi Thu, losing 21-3 and 21-9. The men’s singles also brought disappointment, with Akib Solaiman, who recently impressed in the Bangladesh International Challenge men’s doubles, going down 21-8 and 21-16 to India’s Riyan Ranjan.

Mostakim Hossain put up a stronger fight against Malaysia’s Kong Xiang, narrowly losing the first set 22-20 before conceding the second 21-15. In another women’s singles match, Smriti Rajbanshi showed resilience but fell 21-11 and 21-19 to India’s Nishu Malik.