Kathmandu, June 20

Ratnajit Tamang of Tribhuvan Army Club (TAC) and Bikash Shrestha of Bhojpur advanced to the men’s singles final of the fifth Pushpalal Memorial Ranking Badminton Tournament here on Monday.

In the day’s semi-final matches at the National Sports Council covered hall, Tamang thrashed Bishnu Katuwal of Nepal Police Club 21-9, 21-4, while Shrestha denied all-TAC final with a 21-17, 21-16 victory over Dipesh Dhami. In women’s singles semi-finals that featured four TAC shuttlers, Nangsal Devi Tamang defeated Amita Giri, while Anu Maya Rai came from a set down to beat Jessica Gurung 14-21, 21-18, 21-15.

In U-17 boys’ singles, Chiran Bista and Sunil Joshi of Kanchanpur advanced to the final. Bista edged past Rukesh Maharjan of TAC 21-18, 24-22, while Joshi overcame Praful Maharjan of TAC 21-15, 14-21, 21-19. In girls’ category, Jessica Gurung set all-TAC final date with Megha Chand. Gurung defeated fellow TAC shuttler Rashila Maharjan 21-16, 21-14, while Chand registered a hard-fought 21-12, 17-21, 21-12 win over Ranjana Bhatt of Kanchanpur.

In men’s doubles, TAC’s Ratnajit Tamang/Nabin Shrestha will take on Dipesh Dhami/Suresh Maharjan in the final. Tamang/Shrestha defeated Bikash Shrestha/Ram Rai 21-14, 21-11, while Dhami/Maharjan thumped Sudip Sedhai/Bijit Thapa Magar 21-18, 21-15. In women’s category, Nangsal Devi Tamang/Amita Giri of TAC defeated Shova Gauchan/Sita Rai of APF 21-12, 21-10, while Puja Shrestha/Bina Tulachan of APF beat Durga Bhandari/Suja Rai 21-14, 21-11.