Thing won gold medals in the men´s single kata and team kata. Thing defeated Gubi Ram Ghale of Armed Police Force (APF) 4-1 in the final of men´s single kata. Rabindra Manandhar of University Team and Parshuram Bastola finished third in the event. As Bastola, who is in the current national team, finished third, he will not be in the national team until another selection tournament.
Thing teamed up with Monday Kaji Shrestha and Kedar Simkhada to win gold in the men´s team Kata. The trio edged past the Nepal Army team of SK Subba, DB Ale Magar and Subash Karki 5-0 in the final.
Meanwhile, NPC´s Chanchala Danuwar and Subhadra Sherstha, both undergoing the national team training, finished in the top two positions in women´s single kata. Danuwar beat Shrestha 4-1 in the final. Sarita Shrestha of University Team and Anita Tamang of Nepal Gojuryu Association claimed bronze medals.
The NPC team of Subhadra Shrestha, Sangita Dangol and Suman Lama clinched gold medal in the women´s team kata defeating the University Team of Sarita Shrestha, Rina Shrestha and Karma Lama in the final.
Selection process
Altogether 205 karatekas of 12 teams are participating in the selection tournament.
Nepal Karate Federation (NKF) had asked all four official karate associations -- shitoryu, wadoryu, gojuryu and shotokan -- to select their respective national teams to compete with the current national team and four departmental teams -- NPC, Army, APF and University. Silver and bronze medalists of the Sixth National Games can also compete with the current national team players in the selection tournament.
NKF will form a new national team after the two-day tournament. The federation will select 21 karatekas -- 11 male and 10 female -- for both kumite and kata events.
According to NKF President Dawa Gurung, the gold medalists of the ongoing selection tournament will be included in the new national team.
Opening ceremony
National Sports Council (NSC) Member Secretary and patron of NKF Yuvaraj Lama inaugurated the tournament amidst a ceremony at the NSC covered hall on Wednesday.
"Unlike some years ago, NKF has gained reputation as a well-managed and well-disciplined federation in the last two years," said Lama. Lama also informed that members of all the national teams included in Mission SAG will get Rs 7,500 per month from this month. Earlier, NSC used to provide Rs 4,500 to a national team player.
Meanwhile, Nepal Badminton Association General Secretary Ramji Bahadur Shrestha, also a member of the IOC-recognized Nepal Olympic Committee, applauded NKF for its recent success. "Every sports lover and sports organization is happy for the latest success of Nepali karate at the national and international level," said Shrestha.
Nepali karateka Ganga Devi Adhikari won two international gold medals last year -- one each at the Asia Pacific Shitoryu Championship and at the Singapore Open. Similarly, another Nepali karateka Sunil Lama clinched gold in the Asia Pacific Shitoryu Championship.
"After electing the NKF executive committee last year, we are trying to rebuild the reputation of Nepali karate," said NKF Member Krishna Shankar Shah, referring to the success of Nepali karate in the Eighth South Asian Games, where Nepal had won 14 out of 15 gold medals.
Judge Prakash Dhaubhadel and player Minita Thapa took the oath to conduct and play fair game before the inauguration of the tournament.
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