Nepal Champion Bikash Shrestha maintained his grip at the top of the ranking table after winning the title in the men´s section.[break]
The champions bagged Rs 15,000 while the runners-up received Rs 8,000 each.
Tamang defeated Shrestha in two straight sets. Tamang took the first set 21-15 and the second 21-16. This was her first final match in two years. She had earlier defeated Shrestha in the final of Krishna Mohan Memorial Badminton Tournament two years back.
After Saturday´s victory, Tamang said that she was happy to defeat the defending champion. "I was out of court for one year due to injury. I haven´t fully recovered yet," she said and added, "Shrestha gave me a tough challenge in the final."
Shrestha said that she lost the match due to her fitness problem. "In the past, I used to beat Tamang in low score but my age and the fitness problem cost me the match." said the 32-year-old Shrestha who has been playing badminton for the past 19 years.
Meanwhile, Bikash Shrestha toiled hard against Sajan Krishna Tamrakar in the final of the men´s singles category. Shrestha took the first set 24-22 and lost the second 23-21. Shrestha capitalized on the mistakes of Tamrakar to take the last set 21-15 for the victory. Despite the win, Shrestha was not satisfied with his performance.
Shrestha said that he made more negative points that cost him the second set. "Tamrakar is my training partner and I knew his weaknesses. He is a good player and gave me a tough fight."
In the final of U-17 boys´ singles category, Dipesh Dhami humiliated Suman Limbu 21-10, 21-7. Dhami had defeated Nepal champion Shrestha in the first match of the day but crashed out of the semifinals in the men´s singles. Sikshya Shrestha lifted the trophy of U-17 girls´ singles category.
Shrestha defeated Shreya Pradhan 21-13, 21-13. Winners of the both categories bagged a purse of Rs 10,000 while the second position holders received Rs 7,000. The semifinalists received Rs 4,000 each.
In the veterans´ doubles, the pair of Ramesh Kumar Shrestha, vice-president of Nepal Badminton Association, and Krishna Bahadur Thapa overcame Madan Karmacharya and Bijaya Shrestha to win the title.
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