Bangladesh have secured a total of eight medals – one gold, one silver and six bronze across the first three days of the South Asian Youth Table Tennis Championship. On Friday, the team added one silver and five bronze medals to their tally, building on an impressive start to the tournament.
On Thursday, the Under-19 boys’ team claimed gold in the team event, whilst the Under-19 girls’ team earned bronze after finishing third in the group stage.
Despite mixed results in the team events, Bangladesh’s number-one girls’ player, Khoi Khoi Sai Marma, remains firmly in contention in the singles draw. Meanwhile, Nafiz Iqbal and Abul Hashem Hasib in the Under-19 boys’ singles, and Md. Midul Rahman in the Under-15 boys’ singles, have all progressed to the pre-quarterfinals.
Khoi Khoi Sai Marma suffered a 0–3 defeat to India’s Ananya Muralidharan but bounced back to beat Maldives’ Mohammad Ibrahim Mishkat 3–2, finishing as group runner-up. She is set to face Sri Lanka’s Shamalsha Halawathage in the quarterfinals.
Nafiz Iqbal fell 0–3 to tournament top seed Priyanuuj Bhattacharya of India, yet recovered to defeat Maldives’ Ayon Ibrahim 3–0 and advance as group runner-up. He will meet Nepal’s Himal Bista in the quarterfinals.
Abul Hashem Hasib, despite an early loss to Nepal’s Himal Bista, defeated Sri Lanka’s Harin Munasinghe and Maldives’ Mohammad Rafiu — both 3–0 — to progress as group runner-up. His quarterfinal opponent is Sri Lanka’s Akain Rajavel.
Md. Midul Rahman lost 0–3 to India’s Akshay Kirikarar but defeated his Nepali opponent 3–2 to advance as group runner-up. He faces Sri Lanka’s Sanan Menuyelge in the pre-quarterfinals.
In the Under-15 boys’ doubles, Md. Shahin Ahmed and Md. Midul Rahman defeated the Maldivian pair of Mohammad Rafiu and Faz Latif 3–2, before losing 1–3 to India’s Risan Chatterjee and Akash Rajavel in the semifinals, claiming bronze.
In the Under-15 girls’ doubles, Mosa. Rafia Chowdhury and Rosa Islam received a bye into the semifinals, where they fell 1–3 to Nepal’s Arsana Maharaj and Suramya Shakya, earning bronze.
The Under-19 boys’ doubles pairing of Nafiz Iqbal and Abul Hashem Hasib produced the standout result of the day, defeating a Maldivian pair 3–0 in the quarterfinals before overcoming Nepal’s Himal Bista and Erish Shakya 3–1 in the semifinals. They have guaranteed Bangladesh a silver medal and will face India in the final.
In the Under-19 girls’ doubles, Khoi Khoi Sai Marma and Reshmi Tainchanga lost 0–3 to Nepal in the semifinals, but secured bronze.
In the Under-15 mixed doubles, Md. Midul Rahman and Rosa Islam defeated Nepal’s Rivan Bajracharya and Suramya Shakya 3–2 to reach the semifinals, guaranteeing yet another bronze medal. They will face India in the next round.
In the Under-19 mixed doubles, Abul Hashem Hasib and Khoi Khoi Sai Marma have also advanced to the semifinals, securing bronze in the process. Their next opponents are a Maldivian pairing.
