Nepal Police Club’s Prince Dahal clinched men’s singles in the 12th Pushpalal Memorial National Ranking Badminton Championships to secure the title for the third year in a row on Sunday.

In the contest among top 16 ranked players of Nepali badminton, Dahal beat Praful Maharjan of Tribhuvan Army Club 21-14, 21-17. Though Dahal took the match under control from the beginning in the first set, he fought back from 1-8 to secure a straight set victory in the second set in Biratnagar.

It was his second victory over Maharjan inside eight days after triumphing over him in the title clash of Chief Minister Sagarmatha National Ranking Badminton in Itahari last week.

Champion Dahal collected a purse of Rs 50,000 along with a medal, trophy and certificate while Maharjan walked away with Rs30,000.

The joint third place finishers Bishnu Katuwal and Rukesh Maharjan got Rs14,000 and Rs12,500, respectively.

Former Prime Minister KP Sharma Oli distributed the prizes.

Army’s Anumaya Rai secured women’s singles title in the event that featured top 12 ranked players. Rai rallied from a set down to beat Jessica Gurung of Nepal Armed Police Force (APF) Club 18-21, 21-17, 21-6 to clinch the second Pushpalal title in a row.

Rai received Rs50,000 for her feat while the runner-up Gurung collected Rs28,500. Rashila Maharjan and Prarthana Deuba finished joint third.