Unique clinch trophy KATHMANDU: Unique Academy defeated Trungram International Academy (TIA) 60-35 in the final of the Inter-school Basketball Tournament organised by Grammar Public Higher Secondary School here on Sunday. Unique took a 15-10 lead in the opening quarter and extended it by adding 20 points to that of TIA’s 14 in the second quarter. After the break, Unique scored 17 and eight points in the last two quarters, while TIA managed just six and five points respectively. Bikash Gurung of Unique top scored with 16 points. Santosh Shrestha of TIA was named the MVP, while Krishna Subedi of Kathmandu Xavier was the highest scorer with 154 points. Both the players received Rs 1,000 each. The winning team earned Rs 10,000, while TIA bagged Rs 5,000. A total of 16 teams from 15 schools took part in the event. — HNS

Maskey steps down LALITPUR: Sitaram Maskey, vice-president of the National Sports Council (NSC), tendered his resignation to Youth and Sports Minister Ganesh Nepali here on Sunday. Maskey, who is also the vice-president of Nepal Olympic Committee, also handed over a resignation of NSC member Purendra Bikram Lakhe. Lakhe is currently in Bangkok as the chef-de-mission of Nepali contingent participating at the first Martial Arts Games. Maskey requested the minister not to accept Lakhe’s resignation until his arrival. — HNS Bista earns int’l license KATHMANDU: Nepali taekwondo star Deepak Bista earned an international referee license. The 2008 Beijing Olympian and three-time SA Games gold medallist was granted the degree after passing the 53rd Referee Seminar organised by the World Taekwondo Federation from February 7-10 in Las Vegas, USA. The degree allows the two-time Asian Games bronze medallist to officiate any international Kukiwon tournaments. The Nepal Taekwondo Association handed over certificate to Bista on Sunday. — HNS

LAS to organise tennis LALITPUR: Little Angels’ School (LAS) is organising the third LAS-JTI Inter-school Lawn Tennis Tournament here from August 14. Players from 48 schools will compete for the championships in the five-day championships. The tournament features events in Under-9, U-10, U-12, U-14, and U-16, informed the organisers. A total of 178 players from 21 schools had taken part in the last edition on the event. — HNS