State Open Badminton Championship Naoba, Paobaithang, Aimson register first round wins in men's singles competition

By Our Staff Reporter
IMPHAL, Dec 1: Naoba Sharma of Jiribam, Paobaithang Haokip of Kangpokpi and O Aimson of Bishnupur district were among 11 players who posted wins today in the men's singles competition of the 65th State Open Badminton Championship being underway at the Manipur Badminton Association's indoor stadium, DM College Campus.
Naoba Sharma was able to edge out Sensin Kamei of Imphal East 21-9, 21-9 and Paobaithang beat Th Hitler of Imphal West 21-19, 21-16 to move into the second round.
O Aimson then got the better of Kingson Thono of Imphal East 21-11, 21-13 before S Manisana of Thoubal beat Tushan Yumnam of Imphal East 21-9, 21-5; Nicky M of Kakching edged out K Jenus Singh of Imphal West 21-12, 20-22, 21-18; Reingaham Kasar of Ukhrul beat Mallemnganba Heigrujam of Imphal West 21-5, 21-2; Ch Ritesh of Imphal West beat Bidyananda Longjam of Kakching 21-5, 21-10; Sirzeet M of Imphal East beat Rana Kumar Baruah of Imphal West 21-13, 21-14 and N Avinash of Imphal East beat Oinam Pari Meitei of Imphal West 21-11, 22-20.
Heigrujam Yaiphaba of Imphal West, N Roshan Singh of Kakching and Thiyam Sanju Singh also got first round walkover today.
Boys U-11
In the first round matches of the Boys U-11 singles competition, L Brikson of Bishnupur, Ng Yaiphaba of Jiribam, M Rustum of Imphal East, L Biyas Singh of Imphal West and three others beat their respective rivals to enter next stage.
L Brikson had to work hard as he suffered first set loss but recovered well in the latter set to edge out W Juvaraj of Kakching 18-21, 21-9, 21-11.
Ng Yaiphaba then saw off Imphal West's Reyansh Tayenjam 15-21, 21-18, 21-18 in similar match before M Rustum got the better of P Eragon of Imphal West 21-8, 21-5.
L Biyas Meitei then eased past N Maxson Singh of Bishnupur 21-13, 21-1, M Rolexson of Bishnupur beat Athouba Mangang 21-9, 21-10, Awakeson Oinam of Imphal West beat Joel Kh of Imphal East 21-15, 21-8 and S Pinibash of Thoubal beat S Lanhenba of Imphal West 21-9, 21-5 to make it to the next round. Tejkumar Kangjam of Imphal West on the other hand earned the next round berth of the same competition on the back of a walkover as his rival, Aheiba K of Bishnupur did not turn up.