KATHMANDU, March 29: Dipesh Dhami of the departmental team Armed Police Force (APF) Club won the mixed doubles title with Pooja Shrestha and reached finals of two other categories- men’s singles and men’s doubles- in the ongoing 15th Krishna Mohan Memorial Open Badminton Tournament on Thursday.
At the APF’s Covered Hall in Halchowk, Dhami and Shrestha defeated other APF pair of Bijeet Thapa Magar and Shova Gauchan 21-10, 21-12 to lift the title of mixed doubles.
Earlier in the mixed doubles semifinals, Dhami and Shrestha beat APF’s Gautam Singh Kathayat and Sunaina Mukhiya 21-12, 21-16, while the losing finalist Magar and Gauchan had defeated the other departmental team Tribhuvan Army Club’s Suroj Maharjan and Amita Giri 22-20, 21-17.
In the semifinals of the men’s singles, Dhami saw off Army’s Praphul Maharjan 21-12, 21-15 to reach the final.
Dhami reaches badminton semis in three categories
He will now take on Silk Group’s Prince Dahal, who overcame Nepal Police Club’s Jeevan Acharya 21-19, 21-11.
In the semifinals of the men’s doubles, APF’s Dhami and Magar got past Police’s Acharya and Deepak Bohora in a straight set of 21-18, 21-17 to book their place in the final.
Likewise, in the other semifinal clash, Praphul and Suroj of Army beat APF pair of Sudeep Sedhain and Sajan Krishna Tamrakar 21-14, 21-19 to reach the final of the tournament.
In other categories, Army’s Rasila Maharjan entered the final of one category, while won the title in the other. Silk Group’s Dahal did the same and maintained his domination in the categories he played in.
In women’s singles semifinals, APF’s Jessica Gurung and Army’s Maharjan reached the final after they beat their respective opponents on straight sets.
In the last four clashes, Gurung defeated Army’s Amita Giri 21-13, 21-11 in straight sets, while Maharjan joined her in the final clash with a 21-15, 21-12 sets win over Army’s Anu Maya Rai.
Maharjan won the girls’ singles U-17 title defeating Morang’s Sima Rajbanshj on straight set of 21-14, 21-15.
Earlier, in the semifinals, Maharjan had defeated Morang’s Nita Lamsal 21-17, 21-14, while Rajbanshi had secured her place in the final with a 21-13, 21-9 set victory over Army’s Ranjana Bhatt.
Likewise, in boys’ U-17 singles, Silk Group’s Dahal beat APF’s Pemba Sherpa comfortably 21-4, 21-8 to lift the title.
In another semifinal clash, Dahal saw off APF’s Priyanshu Singh Chhetri 21-11, 21-9 and was joined by Sherpa, who got past Army’s Diwas Shankar 21-14, 24-22.
The APF pair of Pooja Shrestha and Jessica Gurung will take on the Army pair of Anu Maya Rai and Rasila Maharjan in the final of the women’s doubles.
Shrestha and Gurung defeated Army’s Amita Giri and Ranjana Bhatta 21-13, 21-11, while Rai and Maharjan knocked out APF pair of Shova Gauchan and Sunaina Mukhiya 21-18, 21-11.
The final matches will be played on Friday.
