Nepal to vie in Asian U-16 Basketball qualifiers

KATHMANDU, June 19: Nepal Basketball Association (NeBA) has decided to send an 18-member Nepali boys´ team comprising 12 players and six officials to participate in the South Asian qualifying tournament for the Third Asian U-16 Basketball Championship. South Asian Basketball Association (SABA) has scheduled the qualifying tournament for July 3 to 5 in Dhaka, Bangladesh.



According to NeBA President Lama Tendi Sherpa, the association has already selected players for the qualifying tournament. Ajay Kunwar, Kesang Thokya Thakuri, Saugat Singh Baniya, Amish Magar, Shoharat Shah, Suraj Lama and Sujan Senchuri are included in the U-16 national team. The other players in the squad are Denjo Gurung, Prayush Shrestha, Chhewang Jhankri, Sandesh Tamang and Sudip Acharya. [break]



"We had asked schools and district associations to recommend players within the age bar for the selection. Around 80 young players participated in the two-day selection process. We shortlisted 22 players in the first round and finally picked 12 players after a week," said NeBA Senior Vice-president Narendra Thapa.



According to Sherpa, Biku Maharjan is the coach of the team and Prem Sundar Hona is the assistant coach. NeBA Senior Vice-president Thapa is the team leader while Purna Bahadur Neupane has been appointed the manager of the U-16 team. Subrat Rajopadhyaya will accompany the team as official while FIBA referee Raj Kumar Maharjan will also go to Dhaka to officiate matches in the qualifying tournament.

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