Nepal Armed Police Force (APF) Club won the Vice President’s Cup Women’s National Football League with a 3-1 win over Tribhuvan Army Club (TAC) 3-1 in their last match at the Anfa Complex in Satdobato on Tuesday.

Star striker Sabitra Bhandari scored a hat-trick to finish the campaign with 12 goals. In the virtual final between the departmental sides, a draw would have been sufficient for APF to clinch the championship while the Army team needed victory to lift the trophy as both started the game tied on nine points.

Bhandari broke the deadlock for APF in the 41st minute. Poonam Jargha Magar restored the parity for TAC in the 54th minute. Bhandari made 2-1 five minutes later before adding her third goal in the 82nd minute.

Bhandari was adjudged the most valuable player after also scoring five goals against Kahtmandu and four against Rautahat. She did not score against Nepal Police Club (NPC) in their 2-0 win. APF finished on 12 points and TAC on nine. Rautahat finished in third with six points.

In another match, NPC hammered Kathmandu 9-0 for their first points and finished fourth. Kathmandu rounded up their campaing with four defeats in as many games. Niru Thapa scored four goals for NPC while Nirmala Upadhyaya struck twice. Ghim Kumari Gurung, Nirmala BK and Manju Gurung were also on targets.

Champions APF bagged Rs 200,000 while APF got Rs 100,000. Third placed Rautahat walked away with Rs 50,000. The most valuable player Bhandari received Rs 25,000 while her APF teammate Ruenuka Nagarkote was named the best midfielder and Anjali Tumbapo the best goalkeeper, also of AFP.

APF’s Janak Singh Tharu was named the best coach. Rashmi Kumari Ghising of Rautahat won the best forward award and Poonam Jargha Magar of TAC the best defender honour. All the individual award winners earned Rs 10,000 each.