KATHMANDU: The Nepal Armed Police Force (APF) Club duo Pooja Shrestha and Sujana Shrestha claimed the women’s doubles title of the sixth Krishna Mohan Memorial National Open Badminton Championship here today.

The Shrestha duo eased past the pair of Nangsala Devi Tamang and Sakuntala Tamang 21-9, 21-14 to pocket Rs 30,000 cash prize. The runners up earned Rs 20,000. Shikshya Shrestha of Chitwan claimed the women’s singles Under-16 title with a 21-14, 21-19 win over Swastika Budhathoki of Kaski while Dipesh Dhami of APF overcame Irfan Ansari of Banke 21-23, 21-12, 21-11 to win the men’s singles U-16 final. The winners in both the categories will take home Rs 20,000 each while runners up will pocket Rs 10,000 each.

Ratnajeet Tamang brought home the mixed doubles trophy with her sister Sara Devi after the duo defeated Pooja Shrestha/Rajeev Dahal 21-12, 21-14 to bag Rs 30,000 cash prize. The losing finalists got Rs 20,000. Sara Devi and Pooja have set yet another women’s singles championship date after meeting at last year’s meeting in Nationwide Badminton Championship organised by the Nepal Police. Sara defeated Sujana 21-5, 21-6 and Pooja struggled past Sara’s sister Nangsala Devi 14-21, 21-12, 21-9 in the semi-finals.

Bikash Shrestha of Nepal Police Club and Ram Singh Chaudhary of Kailali will play the men’s championship match after winning their respective semi final matches today. Bikash saw off Sahadev Khadka of Kailali 21-11, 15-21, 21-15 while Ram Singh overpowered Indra Mahata of APF 21-17, 15-21, 21-14. Ram Singh also made it to the men’s doubles final with Navaraj Joshi and will take on Bibek Shrestha/Ratnajeet Tamang. The duo defeated Indra Mahata/Bishal Pradhan 21-18, 18-21, 3-21. Ratnajeet/Bibek outplayed Bimal Shrestha/Ram Rai 21-12, 14-21, 21-19 in the semi-final.

Shailendra Raj Ghale/Madhav

Bahadur Thapa defeated the pair

of Amrit Tajaya and Dharma Lal Pradhan 21-19, 19-21, 21-12 to win the men’s veterans doubles (above 55yrs) trophy. Pawan Kumar Shrestha/Rajendra Prasad Shrestha and Surendra Singh/Hemanta Pal will meet in the men’s veterans doubles (above 45yrs) final on Saturday.