Medals confirmed

Bangladeshi shuttler Saif Uddin smashes during his game against Maldives' Hassan Afsheen Shaheem in the men's badminton of the 11th South Asian Games at the Wooden Floor Gymnasium yesterday.Photo: STAR

Bangladesh made a bright start in the badminton competition of the 11th South Asian Games as the hosts confirmed their semifinal berth in both men's and women's team events at the wooden floor gymnasium yesterday.
In today's semifinal, men's team will face India while the women's team will meet Sri Lanka at the same venue. The host shuttlers started their mission with a target of clinching any medal and winning the quarterfinals, they have confirmed at least the bronze medals. Bangladesh failed to get in the medals tally in the last competition in Colombo.
On way to the semifinal, the men's team demolished Maldives in straight 5 sets in the quarterfinal. Saif Uddin beat Hassan Afsheen Shaheem 21-14, 21-12, Ahsun Habib Parash defeated Ajfaan Rasheed 21-16, 21-13 and Rais Uddin beat Nasheeu Sharafuddin 21-12, 21-10.
In the doubles, Rasel Kabir and Ahsun Habib Parash pair defeated Afsheen Shaheem and Ajfaan Rasheed pair 21-12, 21-11 while Anamul Haque and Hamil Ahmed Dulal won their battle against Riyaz Hussain and Nasheeu Sharafuddin pair 21-19, 21-13.
Bangladesh women's team had to toil hard before beating Pakistan 3-2 to enter into the last four.
Shapla Akter beat Palwasha Basheer 21-15, 16-21, 21-15, Alina Sultana beat Aisha Akram 21-12, 21-17 but Konika Rani Adhikari lost to Sara Khan 21-15, 16-21, 14-21. Konika, however, paired with Shapla to beat Palwasha Basheer and Aisha Akram pair 21-17, 21-13 while Alina and Jebunnesa Shima lost to Sara and Anika Rannar pair 17-21, 20-22.
In the other men's quarterfinal, Sri Lanka earned a hard fought 3-2 victory over Pakistan.