"We have already informed the Asian Football Confederation (AFC) that Nepal would participate in the event and bid to host the group stage," ANFA President Ganesh Thapa, who is also the president of the Challenge Cup organizing committee, said. "The AFC meeting to be held on October 22 will divide teams for the group stage and also finalize the venue." [break]
There is provision of hosting group matches by a team from the group.
The Challenge Cup to be participated by national teams is held every two years. At least 16 teams are expected to participate in the event. The participating teams are divided into four groups, and the winners and the runners-up of the group stage will make it to the final round.
Niraula leads youth rating chess
KATHMANDU, Oct 11: Niraj Niraula of Jhapa is leading the First National Youth of Nation Rating Chess Tournament with 7.5 points after the completion of the eighth and ninth rounds on Monday.
Niraula played an impressive game to register victory over Uttam Raj Thapa of Tanahun in the eighth round held at Khwapring School, Bhaktapur.
Veteran chess player Rajendra Prasad Shrestha of Kathmandu and Bhaktapur´s Madan Krishna Kayastha are jointly in the second position with seven points each.
Shrestha defeated Umesh Sainju of Bhaktapur in the eighth round but drew with Kayastha to share point. Kayastha settled for a draw in the eighth round as well with Ganesh Man Duwal.
Bhaktapur´s Balaram Napit, FIDE Master Manish Hamal, Rupesh Jaiswal of Rautahat and Milan Roka are trailing behind in the third place with 6.5 points each.
JICA hands over kits to karatekas
KATHMANDU, Oct 11: Japan International Cooperation Agency (JICA) handed over sports kits worth Rs 150,000 to national karate players amid a function held at the National Sports Council on Monday.
The players who received the kits include the 11th South Asian Games (SAG) medalists and those selected for the upcoming Asiad.
National karate coach Naomi Kondo contributed Rs 75,000 for the sports kit from the reward that he had received from the government as the coach of the medal winning SAG team. His tenure as the national team´s coach ends in January 2011.
Kondo was also awarded a letter of appreciation during the function organized by the Shito-ryu Karate Association.
KDBA signs badminton player
KATHMANDU, Oct 11: Kathmandu District Badminton Association (KDBA) has started a new approach by signing a player with the association.
President of KDBA Deepak Thapa and badminton player Manila Shrestha signed a memorandum of understanding on Monday in the presence of officials from Nepal Badminton Association. The agreement will last for two years.
Besides the departmental teams, no other clubs or associations have taken such a step. The signing will help players move toward professionalism, Thapa said.
On the occasion, KDBA handed over a letter of appreciation to Shrestha who had recently won the U-17 girls´ singles badminton title during the Second Police Open National Badminton Tournament.
Reliance win title
KATHMANDU, Oct 11: Reliance International School clinched the title of the Bijaya Dashami Cup Indo-Nepal Inter-school Football Tournament on Monday, defeating Niten Memorial School (NIMS) ´A´ 4-1 in tie-breaker.
NIMS took the lead in the first half of the final match through Ang Nima Tamang in the 22nd minute. Pasang Lama scored an equalizer for Reliance in the second half.
The match was then decided through penalty shootout after both the teams failed to add any more goals even in the added time.
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