Premier enter final

HIMALAYAN NEWS SERVICE

KATHMANDU: Premier College beat Golden Gate 34-13 in the girls' section semi-finals of the KCM Basketball Bash on Monday. Premier will play for the championship on Thursday against the winners of the second semi-final match between Prime and St Xavier's College. Meanwhile, Prime and Premier advanced to the boys' section semi-finals. Prime dispatched Xavier International 54-36 and Premier overcame K&K College 58-32 in the quarter-finals.

ANFA calls 50 players

KATHMANDU: The All Nepal Football Association (ANFA) on Monday called 50 players for the AFC U-22 Asian Cup Group ‘D’ Qualifiers scheduled here for June 2-10. Krishna Thapa has been named the head coach and Hari Khadka the assistant coach. Nepal have been pitted against Uzbekistan, Jordan, Yemen and Bangladesh in the inaugural edition of the championship. Participating 41 nations have been divided in to seven Groups with winners and runners-up from each group making it to the next year's finals. The host nation as well as one best third-placed team will complete the 16-team finals. — HNS

Duwal takes lead

KATHMANDU: Veteran Ganesh Man Duwal took the fifth round lead at the Open FIDE Rating Chess Tournament with 4.5 points here on Monday. Duwal, who was held by Mahesh Sthapit of Sarlahi in the fourth round, defeated former Nepal champion Naveen Tandukar in the next round. Mahesh produced yet another upsetting result holding reigning Nepal champion and FIDE Master Manish Hamal for a draw in the fifth round. Manish along with former Nepal champion Surbir Lama, veteran Rajendra Prasad Shrestha, Madan Krishna Kayastha, Rajan Puri, Mahesh Thapa and Suman Lama are tied at second with four points each.

Todt set to visit Nepal

KATHMANDU: Federation International De’l Automobile (FIA) president Jean Todt has confirmed his Nepal visit in the third week of May, read a press release issued by the Nepal Automobile Sports Association (NASA) on Monday. NASA has invited Todt after they got affiliation from the world governing body of motor sport from the New Delhi general convention in December last year. Todt will meet Youth and Sports Minister, Tourism and Civil Aviation Minister, members of the parliamentary committees and NASA officials during his Nepal stay, informed NASA.