KATHMANDU, Aug 9: Nepal’s lawn tennis team has left for Kuala Lumpur, Malaysia, on Wednesday for the preparations of the upcoming 18th Asian Games. 

The Nepali players will train at the Malaysia Lawn Tennis Association’s academy. The All Nepal Lawn Tennis Association (ANLTA) informed that the players will also play a practice match with the players of the academy who are also currently preparing for the Asian Games. 

Abhishek Bastola, Samrakshyak Bhushan Bajracharya, and Pranab Khanal will represent Nepal in the Asian Games from the men’s category, while Mayanka Rana, Mahika Rana, and Anne Mathema will feature in the women’s category. However, Bajracharya and Mathema are not included in the team for Malaysia tour. 

Bajracharya is studying in Australia, while Mathema is currently training in Czech Republic, according to the association. The association also said that the Nepali players will feature in singles, doubles and mixed doubles categories in the games. 

Nepal started participating in lawn tennis in the Asian Games from 1970’s edition that was held in Bangkok, and continued until 1990 in the Beijing Asiad held in China. After that, Nepal discontinued featuring in the games in four consecutive editions -- in Hiroshima (Japan), Bangkok (Thailand), Busan (South Korea), and Doha (Qatar). Nepal resumed participation with the Guangzhou Asian Games held in China in 2010. 

Nepal will leave for Palembang straight from Malaysia on August 17. The lawn tennis game will be played from August 19 to 26. 

 
• nepal
 
• tennis
 
• malaysia