CAN names squad

HIMALAYAN NEWS SERVICE

KATHMANDU: Cricket Association of Nepal (CAN) on Wednesday announced an 18-member preliminary squad for the ICC World Cricket League Division-IV scheduled for September 1-11 in Malaysia. Among the selected were Paras Khadka, Gyanendra Malla, Sharad Vesawkar, Amrit Bhattarai, Shakti Gauchan, Basanta Regmi, Sanjam Regmi, Rahul Kumar BK, Mahesh Chhetry, Pradeep Airee, Prithu Baskota, Chandra Saud, Sagar Pun, Binod Bhandari, Anil Mandal, Binod Das, Subash Khakurel and Yagyaman Kumal. Among the notable exclusion was the allrounder Mehboob Alam.

KATHMANDU: National and Pyramid International College advanced to the pre-quarterfinals of the first Bir Ganesh Man Memorial Inter-college Basketball Championship here on Wednesday. National thrashed Bridgewater 46-28 to finish as Group ‘G’ winners. Despite the defeat, Bridgewater too advanced as the group runners-up. Pyramid, meanwhile, defeated Whitegold International College 30-16. Joining them in the last 16 were United and Reliance International Academy. United hammered Premier 35-17 and Reliance dispatched VS Niketan 25-19.

Dinesh, Sujan win

KATHMANDU: Dinesh Baniya and Sujan Pun won their opening matches of the first Handicap Snooker Championships here on Wednesday. Dinesh defeated Ashish Singh Bhandari 2-0, while Sujan also beat Ganesh Aryal in straight frames 2-0. Bhas Raj Pathak overcame Ranjit Shahi, Prakash Ghimire thrashed Sudan Shahi, Anish Bhatta Suwal beat Regan Shrestha, Manoj Nakarmi dispatched Saurabh Shahi, Aashrit Joshi hammered Ramkaji Maharjan, Jimmi Khadgi cruised past Manish Malla and Rajan Maharjan overcame Binod Chhetry 2-0. Likewise, Som Lama beat Abhash Khatri, Nitesh Rajbhandari saw off Anuj Dahal, Rakesh Shrestha defeated Bipin Gurung, Binaya Regmi dispatched UD Gurung, Mahesh Prajapati got the better of Sagar Maharjan and Tika Shrestha edged past Tara Tamang 2-1. In all, 64 players are participating in the tournament.

Media Cup Football

KATHMANDU: Nepal Olympic Museum on Wednesday announced the best players of the recently concluded fifth Media Cup football tournament. Sambandha Pradhan of Image Channel was adjudged the best player of the tournament, while Nepal Television’s Sanjeeb Shilpakar and Prajol Shakya were named the best goalkeeper and highest scorer respectively. Prajol had scored six goals including a brace against Image in the final. NTV won the title for the third time defeating Image 3-2 on Saturday. In all, 14 teams took part in the tournament. —

FA charges Frimpong

LONDON: Arsenal’s Emmanuel Frimpong has been charged with improper conduct relating to comments he made on Twitter, the English FA said on Tuesday. “The allegation is that Frimpong posted comments amounting to improper conduct and/or which brought the game into disrepute, which included a reference to ethnic origin, faith or race,” an FA statement said. Media reports said the charge related to comments he made to a fan of rival London club Tottenham. Frimpong has until Friday to respond to the charge.