By MOSES CHIMFWEMBE –
ZAMBIA’S female top seed Ogar Siamupangila crashed out from the ongoing 2014 Botswana International Badminton championship after failing to go past the second round stage in the women singles.
Siamupangila, who last month won gold in the Uganda International alongside her younger sister Evelyn, failed to live up to expectations as she was halted by Doha Hany of Egypt via a 2-1 win with set scores of 19-21, 21-16, 21-14.
The Zambian ace had progressed to the second round via a walk over against a no show Boltshepo Mokwena of Botswana.
Mary Chilambe suffered first round elimination after losing to Uganda’s Shamim Bangi 2-0 and it was the same for Lucrecia Chisenga and Jenipher Phiri endured first round knockouts at the hands of Reltumetse Modisenyane and Oratile Poloka, both from Botswana, with similar scores of 2-0 respectively.
Siamupangila, who teamed up with Bangi progressed to the second round of the women doubles after recording a 2-0 win over Leone Mosekiemang and Maranyane Tuelio of Botswana.
Zambia experienced another setback in the men’s singles when Chongo Mulenga bowed out of contention in a round of 16 with a defeat at the hands of Luka Wraber of Australia.
Despite having a first round advantage with a walkover against Rudolf Dellenback of Hungary, Mulenga succumbed to a defeat with set scores of 21-12, 21-14 to the Australian.
Zambia’s male top seed Chongo Ngosa was seen off in the opening round by Milan Ludik of the Czech Republic after losing 2-0 while Donald Mabo and Charles Kalonde suffered the same fate at the hands of South Africa’s Cameron Coetzer and Alen Roj of Slovenia with identical 2-0 defeats.
Kunda Mulenga and his younger brother Kalombo were expected to take to the court in the men doubles by press time yesterday.