Mahendranagar, January 19

Tribhuvan Army Club’s Ratnajit Tamang and Nepal APF Club’s Dipesh Dhami advanced to the men’s singles final of the National Badminton Tournament at the Mahendranagar covered hall today.

In the semi-final match, top ranked Tamang won against Far-west’s Prince Dahal, who retired hurt in the final set. Dahal claimed the first set 21-15 but injured himself in the second when he was leading 15-14. Tamang won the second set 21-15 to make 1-1 before Dahal quit the match while trailing 8-3. In another semi-final match, Dhami beat TAC’s Nabin Shrestha 21-13, 21-9.

Meanwhile, TAC duo of Ratnajit Tamang and Nabin Shrestha advanced to the men’s doubles final with a 21-15, 21-15 win over APF’s pair of Sajan Krishna Tamrakar and Sudeep Sedhai. APF’s Dipesh Dhami and Bijit Thapa Magar saw off TAC duo of Suroj Maharjan and Praful Maharjan 22-20, 21-17 to make it to final.

Similarly, TAC’s Nangsal Tamang and APF’s Shichhya Shrestha advanced to the women’s singles final. Tamang outplayed APF’s Shobha Gauchan 21-13, 21-11, while Shrestha beat TAC’s Amita Giri 22-20, 21-15.

In women’s doubles semi-finals, APF’s pair of Pooja Shrestha and Shichhya Shrestha beat TAC’s Amita Giri and Rashila Maharjan 21-9, 21-8, while TAC duo of Nangsal Tamang and Anumaya Rai saw off Eastern’s Jessica Gurung and Sunaina Mukhiya 21-15, 23-25, 21-19.

In mixed doubles event, TAC’s Tamang siblings Ratnajit and Nangsal beat APF’s Sajan Krishna Tamrakar and Shichhya Shrestha 21-18, 21-11, while Bijit Thapa Magar and Shobha Gauchan defeated their APF teammates Dipesh Dhami and Pooja Shrestha 21-14, 16-21, 21-18 to advance to the final.

Kho-Kho

RUPANDEHI: Tribhuvan Army Club and Mid-western Region won the titles of the National Kho-Kho Tournament here on Friday. In men’s section final, defending champions TAC defeated Far-western 11-7. Central beat Mid-western 20-13 to finish third. In women’s section final, Mid-western saw off Far-western 10-8. TAC outplayed Central 13-2 to claim third position. TAC’s Shyam Nepali was named the best chaser and Far-western’s Santosh Bohara was the best runner in men’s category. Likewise, Mid-western’s Laxmi Thapa and Far-western’s Pooja Ojj were the best chaser and runner respectively.

Hockey

HETAUDA: Tribhuvan Army Club and Central Region advanced to the women’s category final of the National Hockey Tournament here on Friday. TAC defeated Western 2-0 to top the table of the competition being played under round robin format among five teams. Tanka Maya Khapangi and Pinki Sinjali scored a goal each for TAC, who won all four matches of the league and accumulated 12 points. Similarly, Central defeated defending champions Far-western 1-0 riding on solitary goal from Nerita Basnet. Central finished second in the standing with seven points.  Western also accumulated seven points but they fell behind on inferior goal difference to Central. They will face Far-western in the third-place playoff match. Far-western finished fourth of the table. In men’s section, Western defeated Eastern on sudden death to finish third after a goalless draw. TAC and Far-western have advanced to the final slated for Saturday.

Taekwondo

LALITPUR: Nepal Police Club’s Saksham Karki won gold medal in the men’s 74kg category of the National Taekwondo Tournament on Friday. In the final match, Karki defeated Nepal APF Club’s Niraj Deuba. In below-68kg final, Tribhuvan Army Club’s Gyanendra Hamal defeated NPC’s Bikrant Dangol, while Bir Bahadur Mahara of NPC won the below-63kg gold beating TAC Nishanta Shrestha. In women’s below-62kg event final, TAC’s Yan Kumari Chaulagain beat APF’s Anumaya Tamang, while Gyani Chunara of TAC saw off NPC’s Sushma Shrestha for below-57kg gold medal.