Viren Nettasinghe wins bronze at 32nd Iran Fajr International Challenge

Thursday, 8 February 2024 02:49 - - {{hitsCtrl.values.hits}}

Sri Lanka’s Viren Nettasinghe won the bronze medal in the Men’s Singles at the 32nd Iran Fajr International Challenge 2024, held in Yazd, Iran from 29 January to 4 February.

The star Sri Lankan shuttler progressed from the Round of 64 undefeated, before the current BWF 68 ranked in Men’s Singles, suffered a 0-2 defeat at the hands of Vietnam’s Hai Dang Nguyen in the semi-final.

Nguyen, ranked 82 in the world, went on to clinch the Men’s Singles title defeating Indian Sathish Karunakaran in straight sets 21/17 and 21/18 as Nettasinghe settled in for the bronze medal ahead of Ayush Shetty, the Indian who reached the semi-final.

To reach the semi-final Nettasinghe overcame Brazil’s Jonathan Matias 2-1, after conceding the first set 19/21 and powering his way in the return sets 21/11 and 21/15 in the quarter-finals. Nettasinghe enjoyed a cruising first round, as he defeated Iran’s Mohamed Pairava nd in straight sets (21/5, 21/11) and continued his form by defeating Russia’s Ivan Rusev (21/13, 23/21) and Norway’s Markus Barth (21/19, 21/11) in straight sets on his way to the quarter-final stage.

Over 200 players from 20 countries were part of this BWF sanctioned tournament held at the Yazd Sports Hall in Yazd, Iran from 29 January to

4 February.