Kathmandu, February 2 New Diamond Academy won the title of the fourth APF IG National Women’s Volleyball Tournament here today. In the final match played at the Nepal APF Headquarters, New Diamond came from a set down to beat hosts Nepal APF Club 3-2. After losing the first set 15-25, New Diamond bounced back to win the next two sets 25-23 and 25-16. The hosts levelled the scores at 2-2 by winning the fourth set 25-16 before New Diamond prevailed 15-12 in the final set. APF coach Prakash Thapaliya said his players put up a poor show in the final. “The players struggled in receiving and defense, while the counter-attack was also not up to the mark today,” Thapaliya added. New Diamond coach Kumar Rai lauded his players for the best performance. “We played with high morale from the beginning and we were able to stop APF’s spikers and blockers,” Rai said. Pratibha Mali of New Diamond was named the player-of-the-match and also won the best player’s award. She received Yamaha scooter. Her teammates Kripa Adhikari and Salina Shrestha were adjudged the best server and defender respectively, while Kumar Rai was declared the best coach. APF’s Saraswati Chaudhary, Nebica Chaudhary and Binita Budhathoki were named the best spiker, blocker and setter respectively. The individual award winners received Rs 5,000 each. Along with the trophy, New Diamond received Rs 250,000, while APF earned Rs 125,000. Earlier, Western Region defeated Nepal Police Club in straight sets of 25-21, 25-21, 21-17 in the third-place playoff match. Manju Gurung of Western Region was named the player-of-the-match. Badminton Ratnajit Tamang won the sixth consecutive men’s singles title of the 13th Krishnamohan Memorial Open Badminton Tournament today. Tamang defeated his Tribhuvan Army Club teammate Nabin Shrestha 21-17, 21-9 in the final. In the women’s section, TAC shuttler Nangshal Devi Tamang claimed her second straight title. Tamang beat Nepal APF Club’s Sichhya Shrestha 21-17, 21-17 in the final. In the men’s doubles category, Ratnajit Tamang teamed up with Nabin Shrestha to beat APF duo Bijit Thapa Magar and Bishal Pradhan 21-18, 21-14. On Wednesday, Tamang siblings Ratnajit and Nangshal won the mixed doubles title, while TAC’s Praphul Maharjan bagged the U-17 boys’ singles trophy. NPC pair of Ganesh Chand and Krishna Shiwakoti won the above-35 Master doubles event, while Shyam Prajuli and Nabin Babu Shrestha of Annapurna Badminton Academy claimed the above-45 veteran doubles title. APF’s Prince Dahal — who finished second in the U-17 boys’ singles category — was named the emerging player and received the award established by AIG Shailendra Khanal. A total of 350 players took part in 10 different events of the tournament that offered a total cash prize of Rs 710,000. The Central Sports Committee of Nepal Armed Police Force organised three tournaments — also including ninth Sahabir Memorial Open Lawn Tennis Tournament from January 26-31 — with the total cash purse of Rs 1.76 million. APF IG Durja Kumar Rai, President of APF Family Women’s Association Shila Rai, former acting IG Kishor Kumar Lama, President of All Nepal Lawn Tennis Association Jyoti Rana, President of Nepal Badminton Association Ramji Bahadur Shrestha and President of Nepal Volleyball Association Manoranjan Raman Sharma handed over the prizes to the winners. Trail-runner Mira Rai, who won the National Geographic Channel’s Adventurer of the Year award recently, along with Muna Rai — spouse of former volleyball player Jaya Narayan Chaudhary — and two Japanese volleyball internationals were felicitated on the occasion.