AVINASH Odit, Nicholas Ali, and Jonathan Mangra all made it into the semi-final round of the men’s singles, while Caribbean champion Priyanna Ramdhani picked up two wins in the ladies’ singles when competition in the National Sports Commission Mashramani Badminton tournament commenced on Wednesday at the National Gymnasium.

In the men’s singles quarter-finals Odit triumphed over Javed Rahaman in a thrilling three-setter, the only three-set match of the day. The three-setter was forced after Rahaman ruled the second set 21-16. This was preceded by the 26-24 first set that Odit claimed.
Odit secured the decisive third set 21-19.
In other quarter-final matches Mangra ousted Gokarn Ramdhani 21-11, 21-7; and Ali succeeded 21-14, 21-6 against Marlon Chung. The last of semi-final spot will be determined today after the contest between Ronald Chang Yuen and Darrel Carpenay.
Ramdhani defeated both Ayanna Watson and Emelia Ramdhani, in the ladies’ singles round-robin competition. Both times she secured straight-sets wins, beating Watson 21-9, 21-11, and then taking out Emelia 21-12, 21-12.
Emelia took another hit when she played against Greer Jackson. Like Priyanna, Jackson also collected two wins. She claimed a 21-11, 21-10 victory against Emelia, and then went on to take down Priscilla Moore 21-10, 21-8.
Moore was able to bounce back with a 21-15, 21-10 win against Ayanna Watson.
The semifinals and finals of both the ladies’ and men’s singles are set to conclude today, paving the way for playoffs in the Under-11, U-13 and U-15 boys and girls singles to begin tomorrow.