KATHMANDU: Nepali Wushu players selected for the 11th South Asian Games (SAG) later this month in Dhaka, left for China today for foreign training.

The 13-member team will train at the Chinese Wushu Association (CWA) headquarters in Beijing for 21 days as a part of their preparation for the regional meet. The team includes six sansau players -- Purushottam Rijal (65-70kg), Bir Singh Tamang (60-65kg), Prem Chandra Darlami (56-60kg), Summy Lama (48-52kg), Elina Chaudhary (45-48kg) and Jharan Gurung (56-60kg).

The thaulo players include Raju Maharjan in Nan Quan, Bikash Gurung in Chan Chwan, Ang Babu Lama, Binita Maharjan and Sharmila Karanjit in Taichi Chwan category. The Nepal Wushu Association (NWA) arranged for the trainings in coordination with the CWA and Chinese Sports Administration, informed the (NWA) President Dipak Sarkar. Coaches Ganesh Aryal and Prakash Lama accompanied the team. National Sports Council (NSC) vice-president Pitambar Timalsina among others bade farewell to the team today.

Also the SAG qualifying karatekas left for Thailand today for a three-week training programme in Bangkok. The 14-member team includes five men's players including the two time gold medallist Kushal Shrestha who will compete in the 67kg weight category at the regional meet.

Bindo Shakya (men's 75kg), Binod Maharjan (60kg), Sunil Lama (55kg), Ganga Adhikari (women's 61kg) and Anu Adhikari (55kg). Kedar Bahadur Simkhada, Ganesh Bahadur Thing, Mande Kaji Shrestha and Nir Bahadur Moktan will make the men's kata team while Subhadra Shrestha, Sangeeta Dangol, Chanchala Danuwar and Suman Lama are in the women's kata team.

Parashuram Bastola and Subhadra Shrestha are in the men's and women's individual kata respectively. Hira Singh Dangol and Dipak Shrestha are the two coaches who left with the team. NSC member secretary Hari Babu Chaudhary bade farewell to the team.