Ratnajit Tamang defended the men’s singles title and his sister Nangsal Tamang of Tribhuvan Army Club (TAC) won the women’s singles trophy of the 12th Nationwide Krishna Mohan Memorial Open Badminton Championships on Friday.

In the men’s final match at the Nepal APF Headquarters in Halchowk, Ratnajit rallied from a set down to beat his clubmate and archrival Dipesh Dhami. Dhami won the first set 21-19 but Ratnajit bounced back winning the remaining two 21-10, 21-10.

The final triumph was a continuation to Ratnajit’s domination in Nepal’s men’s badminton. He had also won the National Ranking Badminton Championships in September, 2014. He has not lost a single national badminton tournament that he participated in after losing to Pashupati Paneru in the seventh edition of this tournament in 2011.  

Along with the title, Ratnajit grabbed a cash purse of Rs 60,000 and Dhami was rewarded with Rs 30,000 for his second place finish. Nangsal made the most of the  absence of her sister Sara Devi – the defending champion who has been dominating the women’s badminton – defeating clubmate Amita Giri.

Nangsal won the first set 21-14 with an ease but Giri fought hard in the second set before succumbing 23-21. The top two in the women’s singles got Rs 50,000 and Rs 25,000 respectively.

Ratnajit completed a treble after he combined with Nabin Shrestha to beat Nepal Armed Police Force (APF) Club duo Bijit Thapa and Bikash Shrestha 21-19, 14-21, 21-15. He and Nangsal had also won the mixed doubles on Thursday. Nangsal and her doubles partner Giri were beaten in the women’s doubles by APF pair of Puja Shrestha and Shikshya Shrestha.

Sunil Joshi of Kanchanpur and Megha Chand of TAC won the U-17 girls’ and boys’ singles titles on Thursday.