The championship will be held later in Kathmandu on July 29 and 30 in which junior players from six South Asian countries will participate. All the players will be competing in the age groups 10-13 and 13-16 in both boys´ and girls´ events.[break]
Among the 96 players - 48 boys and 48 girls - only 24 players who secured the first position in the selection rounds will be included in the national team of Nepal.
NJA President Deepak Harsha Bajracharya said that NJA will provide special training to the selected 24 players ahead of the international event, which it is hosting for the first time at the covered hall of the Dasharath Stadium.
The championship is being organized to highlight the ´Judo for Peace´ program which is aimed at providing training and education to conflict-hit children and orphans of Nepal.
The players who secured first position in their respective category of boys´ 13-16 age group on Saturday are Anjan Karki (Above 60 kg) of Bhanubhakta, Rohit Karki (U-60 kg) of Banke, Shrawan Shakya (U-55 kg) of GEMS, Ashwin Pulami Magar (U-50 kg) of Rasuwa and Sanjay Ghising (U-45 kg) of CWCN.
Among the girls´ 10-13 age group event, those who secured the first position are Sikha Shrestha (Above 40 kg) of Kailali, Sangita KC (U-40 kg) of Lotus, Pushpa Bhandari (U-36 kg) of Mt Everest HOPAD, Bishnu Maya Waiba (U-32 kg) of Mt Everest DOCS, Devika Maya Shrestha (U-28 kg) of PAM and Sharada Khatri (U-25 kg) of Mt Everest HOPAD.
Shikha Shrestha, who knocked out several opponents in the selection round, said that it was the second tournament she had participated in. She has been learning judo for the past six months and had earlier contested in the national games held in Rajbiraj, Saptari.
Related story
Historic win for Nepal in Asian Judo Championships
