NRT beat MPC in semi-final

HETAUDA: Balgopal Sahukhala scored the late winner as New Road Team (NRT) defeated Mahendra Police Club (MPC) 3-2 in the semi-final of the Martyrs Memorial National Football Tournament here on Thursday. Nirajan Rayamajhi scored twice before Sahukhala’s winner late in the 81st minute. Rayamajhi put NRT ahead with a header on a cross from Basanta Gauchan in the 30th minute but Ju Manu Rai levelled the scores five minutes later. Man of the match Rayamajhi again gave NRT the lead in the 41st minute only to be equalised by Arjun Rijal in the 67th minute. NRT will play Nabil Three Star Club in the final on Saturday. — HNS

Khumaltar down Pharping

KATHMANDU: Khumaltar Youth Club thrashed Pharping Football Club 5-1 in the ‘C’ Division Selection Football Tournament on Thursday. Ajay Singh scored a hat-trick and Ajay Bista and Niras Dulal added one apiece for Khumaltar. Likewise, Suren Tamang, Kiran Twanty and Bikash Rai all scored hat-trick each as Saksham Nagar Tole Sudhar Samiti annihilated Ashapuri Club 11-1. In other matches, Two Star Club beat Devasthali 4-2 and Sagar Lama scored five goals as Gram Nirman Bandhu Mandal hammered Birbhadra Yuva Club 11-0. — HNS

Referee training concludes

MAKAWANPUR: The Central Region Referee Training Programme organised by Makawanpur Football Association concluded on Thursday. Of the 28 participants, 23 — including two females Srijana Bartoula and Namita Shahi — acquired ANFA badge. Former FIFA Referee Sriram Ranjitkar, FIFA Assistant Referees Sailesh Joshi and Kalpana Sharma conducted the July 10-19 training. — HNS

Rato Bangala win trophy

KATHMANDU: Rato Bangala claimed the first Mahendra Bhawan Inter-school Girls Basketball Tournament title with a 13-9 win over Valley Public in the final. Malpi International downed Gyan Niketan 28-17 in the third-place match. Niharika Pant of Rato Bangala was adjudged the MVP. Sujata Rai of Valley Public won the best three-pointer award and her teammate Sabina bagged the highest scorer’s award with 95 points. — HNS