KATHMANDU: The Nepal Basketball Association (NeBA) on Friday provided scholarships to 30 players at Xavier International College, Trinity International College and Prime College.

The 30 students — 10 each in all three colleges — received 10+2 scholarships and regular training, said NeBA vice president Narendra Shrestha at a press meet. CEO of Trinity College Umesh Thapa, Principal of Prime College Naresh Shrestha and Managing Director of Xavier International Lok Bahadur Bhandari exchanged the scholarships Memorandum of Understandings with NeBA President Lama Tendi Sherpa on the occasion.

The players selected for Xavier International Sagar Thapa, Ashutosh Pandey, Rohit Maharjan, Kushal Soni, Sagar Shrestha, Manish Tamang, Shiva Karmacharya, Mina Chand, Binu Gurung and Seema Karki. Likewise, Siddhartha Maharjan, Rajeev Thapa Kazi, Karan Maharjan, Manish Raj Upadhyaya, Nahendra Maharjan, Ritesh Jung Khadka, Subash Pun, Shreeti Maharjan, Smriti Silwal (Giri) and Mir Maya Waiba were selected for Trinity.

The 10 players, who got scholarships in Prime College, are Widit Ratna Tamrakar, Sworaj Man Chitrakar, Khem Waiba, Nabin Pulami, Nihal Joshi, Nischal Tuladhar, Subin Dura, Roshin Gurung, Diwa Shree Malla and Rajju Maharjan. The players, who passed their SLC exams recently, were selected from the NeBA Talent Hunt programme organised from Baisakh 10-Ashar 10 in Kathmandu. A total of 130 players had taken part in the three-month programme. Member Secretary of National Sports Council Jeevan Ram Shrestha handed over the certificates to the winners and participants.

Shrestha also felicitated Pasang Bhote, who successfully climbed the Mount Everest on May 19 carrying the flags of the NeBA, FIBA and FIBA Asia. Bhote returned back the flags to NeBA President Sherpa on the occasion.