KATHMANDU, OCTOBER 30

Nepali golfers Subash Tamang and Yubraj Bhujel are set to participate in the Asia-Pacific Amateur Championship to be held at the Dubai Creek Golf and Yachting Club from November 3-6.

The two golfers were selected for the event as per their world rankings, informed the Nepal Golf Association. The 13th South Asian Games double gold medallist, Tamang is at 301st position in the R&A rankings, while Bhujel stands at 3858. They will fly for the United Arab Emirates on Sunday and pro golfer Purna Sharma will join them as a coach in Dubai.

Nepal have been participating the championship since 2010 but no golfer has been able to make the cut in the championship, with Sukra Bahadur Rai being the best performer so far, missing it by a stroke in Singapore three years ago. This time around, the NGA is pinning hopes on 19-year-old Tamang, who proved his calibre in the South Asian Games in 2019 when he claimed historic gold in individual event and led the home side to the team event gold medal.

'We have a realistic chance of winning the trophy this time around as Tamang has been consistent in his rounds of late,' said NGA President Tashi Ghale. 'He has shown the intent of doing well in international events and he has the potential to excel in the championship,' he added. Nepal Olympic Committee President Jeevan Ram Shrestha bade farewell to the golfers. Director of Kelme Nepal Pradeep Neupane handed over kits to the players. Kelme Nepal is the official kits sponsor of the national golf team.

NOC President Shrestha lauded the golfers for the beginning of the new era in the sport. 'Golf begun its new journey from the South Asian Games and it has shown a ray of hopes in Nepal sports,' said Shrestha. 'We have not been able to change the existing planning aspect in sports and it's high time to adopt new methodology to prepare for international participations,' he added.

A version of this article appears in the print on October 31, 2021, of The Himalayan Times.