Kathmandu, August 1

Manohar Basnet ‘Max’ of Lalitpur won gold medal in the first Inter-club Valleywide Men’s Open Boxing Tournament here at the National Table Tennis Training Centre today.

Basnet, who returned in the ring after more than two years, defeated Dhruba Ranabhat of Tribhuvan Army Club in the 81kg weight category final.

Basnet had faced disciplinary action from Nepal Boxing Association that kept him out of the ring since he quit the national team training ahead of the 2014 Asian Games.

“It was not easy return to the ring after almost three years,” said Basnet. “I was a little bit scared in the beginning but as the bout went on I got used to it,” he said.

“I got emotional when I entered the ring and remembered the pain the Nepal Boxing Association had given me in these all years,” he said. “I am hopeful that I will be back to full swing after one or two more events,” added Basnet, who got

the nick name of MaxBee while playing in the pro wrestling league in India.

Meanwhile, Sushil Thapa of Naxal, who beat Milandeep Sunuwar of TAC in the 49kg final, was adjudged the best player of the tournament and received Rs 10,000. TAC won the team champion with a total of five gold medals.

Karan Chaudhary edged past his TAC teammate Sudeep Shrestha to win 52kg final, while Ganesh Thapa of Naxal won gold medal in 56kg weight category beating Munal Pun Magar of Army.

Yubaraj Karki was too strong against his Naxal teammate Kishor Sharma in the final of 60kg, while Mohan Thakuri of Army registered a win over Anoj Bhandari of Lalitpur in the 64kg weight category final.

Also, Anish Shrestha of Banu’s Fitness claimed gold in 69kg section beating Suraj Magar of Kathmandu Boxing Club, while Keshab Bam of Army came first in 75kg following his victory over clubmate Harkaram BK.

Roshan Godar of Army won the 91kg weight category gold defeating Megh Daniel Lama of Central Boxing Dojo.

The gold and silver medal winners received Rs 2,000 and Rs 1,000 respectively, while bronze medallists earned Rs 500 each.

Former Prime Minister Jhalanath Khanal, National Sports Council Vice-president Lama Tendi Sherpa and Nepal Olympic Committee President Jeevan Ram Shrestha among others handed over the prizes to the winners.

A total of 51 boxers from 11 clubs took part in the event organised by National Boxing Association, Nepal.