Police players Pradip Roka and Rakesh Maharjan were selected from the male category while Swechha Nembang and Norden Tamang qualified from female category during the final day of two-day pre-qualifiers held at the National Table Tennis Training Center in Lanichaur.
The pre qualifiers selected 18 players each from male and female categories on Thursday. The other players to be selected in male´s category are Nihal Shrestha, Prabin Sherpa, Prajwal KC, Krishna Thapa Magar, Ashis Awal, Ajesh Maharjan, Rabin Sadh, Suman Pradhan, Niresh Karki, Rukesh Sukhaju, Samyog Sharma, Sunil Maharjan, Ritiz Joshi, Tendi Sherpa, Sujan Manandhar and Bivek Khwa. [break]
The female players to qualify for the final selection are Dikshya Tamang, Anita Maharjan, Sabina Makhasya, Iva Raut, Gita Bhujel, Trishna Maharjan, Suravi Thapa, Sujata Duwal, Seeja Aryal, Sudikshya Thapa, Majnu Suwal, Lastha Maharjan, Nikita Adhikari, Nikita Khuju, Renuka Rana Magar and Sonu Thapa Magar.
Earlier, the pre-qualifiers was supposed to pick 16 players each from both the categories for the final qualifiers, and they should have competed with the players who had made it to the pre-quarterfinals of the 35th National Table Tennis Tournament held in Dhangadhi few months earlier.
But two players from both the categories who made it to the last 16 have skipped the national qualifiers, providing opportunity for 18 players to qualify from the pre-qualifiers. The final qualifiers for the national team will begin from Friday.
Thapa fixes final date against Blon
KATHMANDU (REPUBLICA): Krishna Thapa on Thursday has set the women´s singles final date against Bipana Blon in the Second NSRA National Open Squash Championship underway at the Squash Academy in Satdobato, Lalitpur.
Thapa defeated Manjeela Ale Magar in straight sets 11-2, 11-0, 11-4. Blon has, however, already advanced into the final.
Suraj Shrestha made it to the semifinals in men´s singles. Coming from two sets deficit, Shrestha overcame Binod Ratna Shakya 7-11, 8-11, 11-2, 11-9, 11-6. Shrestha will meet defending champion Hira Bahadur Thapa in the semifinals while Amrit Thapa will take on Suresh Gurung for a place in the final.
Arhanta Keshar Singh secured the final spot in junior boy´s section, defeating Prabin Gurung 11-5, 11-5, 11-8. Singh will face Amrit Thapa in the final.
In masters´ singles above 45 years, Kishor Maharjan secured the plate final, defeating Rajesh Mani Ghimire 2-11, 11-6, 11-3, 11-4.
Meanwhile, Lokendra Bhandari and Binayak Shrestha made it to the plate final of men´s singles. Bhandari edged past Nishant Agrawal 11-3, 11-7, 11-8, and Shrestha saw off Rabi Jain 12-1, 11-9, 4-11, 6-11, 11-7.
Shrestha makes it to two finals
KATHMANDU (REPUBLICA): Diwash Shrestha of the Central Region has secured a final berth in two different categories of men´s section during the First National Kick Boxing Championship that began on Thursday at the semi covered hall of Dasharath Stadium in Kathmandu.
Shrestha has made it the finals of the light contact and full contact under 65 kg category.
Shrestha overcame Ram Bahadur Khadaya of the Far-western Region in the full contact, and defeated Chhiring Lama of the Central Region in the light contact.
Shresha will meet Siddhanta Subedi of the Eastern Region in the final of the light contact. Subedi had defeated Karna Dhoj of the Western Region.
Rudra Limbu of the Eastern Region and Krishna Raj Giri of the Mid-western Region have also secured final spots in the men´s open full contact. Nima Kancha Sherpa of the Central Region secured a final berth in the 59 kg semi contact.
Region Thapa Magar of the Central Region and Reshma Rai of the Mid-western Region made it to the women´s 53 kg full contact final while Manju Sunar of the Mid-western Region and Purnima Rai of the Western Region advanced into the 56 kg final.
Bahrain U-23 beats Nepal in friendly
KATHMANDU (REPUBLICA): Nepal was defeated 3-0 by Bahrain U-23 team in a friendly on Wednesday during its first match of the Gulf tour to prepare for the upcoming SAFF Championship to be held in Kathmandu.
Abdullah Shalal netted twice for Bahrain at the Al Ahli Stadium in Manama. Nepal conceded two goals due to poor goalkeeping of custodian Kiran Chemjong.
The Nepali team, which had reached Bahrain on Sunday, conceded the first goal on the ninth minute through Shalal.
Kumil added another goal, and Shalal sealed the victory for Bahrain in the stoppage time.
Nepal will take on East Riffa Club in the second friendly on Tuesday.
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