Swimming was given a green signal to participate in the regional sports competition by the National Sports Council on Thursday. One male and female player each will participate in the ASIAD, Samim Miya Ansari, the president of recently reshuffled Nepal Swimming Association stated. [break]
Earlier, the NSC has decided not to include swimming in ASIAD following Nepal´s poor performance in international arena. Nepal will participate in both men´s and women´s category in 50 and 100 m freestyle, breaststroke and backstroke.
Earlier, the NSC had decided to include 14 events -- karate, taekwondo, wushu, boxing, cricket, judo, weightlifting, athletics, shooting, archery, badminton, table tennis, wrestling and soft tennis.
Boxing selection begins
The preliminary selection of boxers to participate in the 16th Asian Games kicked off at the Boxing Hall of the Dasharath Stadium on Thursday.
Chief coach Prachanda Sharma said the selection is being held in four weight categories -- 52 kg, 60 kg, 75 kg and 81 kg -- in men´s section and two weight categories -- 51 kg and 60 kg -- in women´s section.
Sanju Lama and Maya Chaudhari have been selected in women´s 51 kg while Anuradha Lama and Deepa Chhetri secured their berths in women´s 60 kg.
Meanwhile, Deepak Maharjan was selected unopposed in men´s 81 kg. In men´s 75 kg, Devendra Maharjan and Ratna Tamang entered the final. Likewise, Dinesh Shrestha and Yogesh Gurung made it to the final of men´s 60 kg.
Altogether 12 boxers -- eight men and four women -- will be selected in the first round, which will conclude on Friday, according to the Nepal Boxing Association.
Whitehouse, Morgan in semifinal
Whitehouse and Morgan College advanced into the semifinals of the Morgan Cup Eighth Women´s National Basketball Tournament on Thursday. Whitehouse defeated Kaski 37-30 to advance as group B winners at Dasharath Stadium covered hall.
The victory of Whitehouse also paved the way for Morgan to make it through to the semifinals as group runners-up in the three-team group.
Mogran led initial two quarters 10-6, 13-4. But Kaski made an entertaining fight-back in the third quarter 14-1 to level the scoring 24-24. However, Kaski lost the decisive set 13-6 and crashed out of the tournament. Merina KC netted 10 points for Whitehouse while Manju Gurung´s 13 points could not save Kaski from defeat.
Now, Whitehouse will take on NASA and Morgan will meet defending champions Prime in the semifinals.
In Men´s Ninth National Basketball, Revolver and Kaski won their respective matches and Whitehouse enjoyed walkover from Kavre to book quarterfinal spots.
Revolver beat Nakhipot 68-41. Despite going down in the first quarter 6-16, Nakhipot bounced back in the second quarter 20-3 but they were unable to continue with the tune in the last two quarters and were back 23-6, 29-9 resulting in a defeat. Mausam Gurung netted 11 points for Revolver while Utsav Chand scored 27points for Nakhipot.
Kaski outplayed Sunsari 73-63. Scoring 45 points Yubarja Pun put Kaski ahead in the first three quarters 16-14, 25-17, 20-12 but were back in the last quarter 12-20.
In the quarterfinals to be held on Friday, champions Golden Gate will take on Revolver, Whitehouse A will play against Prime, Pentagon will meet Xavier Int´l and NASA will take on Kaski.
Sharma, Joshi set final clash
Ganga Sharma and Anushka Joshi set up the final clash in U-16 girls´ singles on Thursday in the Second Kesa Group Junior Tennis Initiative Open Tennis Tournament at Satdobato tennis court. Sharma beat 6-4, 6-4 in the semifinal while Joshi registered a comfortable 6-0, 6-1 win over Prakriti Shrestha.
In boys´ singles same age group semifinal match, Milan Roka toiled hard to beat Suyash Rajbhandari 6-3, 4-6, 64 and Pranjal Kayastha beat downed Achal Thapa 3-6, 6-1, 6-2.
In U-14 girls singles, U-16 finals Joshi and Gita Shrestha won their respective matches to make it through to the final. In U-14 boys singles, Brhamandasingh Moktan, Prakash Sharma, Gaurab Shahi and Avishek Bastola cruised into semifinal.
Arunima, NIMS triumph
Arunima Higher Secondary School and NIMS won their respective matches on Thursday in the Coca Cola Cup Inter-school Girl´s National Football Tournament at Chyasal grounds.
Arunima thrashed Tika Bidhyasram 3-0 as Laxmi Tamang netted twice. Tamang scored in the 10th and 63rd minute while Reshma Phuyal added another in the 44th minute.
Likewise, a lone goal from Srijana Khadka helped NIMS beat Mangaldeep 1-0. Khadka scored the decisive goal in the 63rd minute.
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