Kathmandu, July 12:

Armyman Ek Bahadur Ghale and Mala Rai of Armed Police Force (APF) won the best male and female player award here at the Second Junior Men and Women’s Open Boxing Championship today.

Ghale won the men’s 69kg title win a win over Chhetra Bahadur Saru of Surkhet while Rai clinched the 46kg championship with a victory over Surajmuni Hemran. Both Ghale and Rai won Rs 5,000 and samsung mobile each.

Winners in other men’s event include Ujjar Singh Thapa (75kg) of Nepali Army, Rupak Maharjan (64kg) of Nepal Youth Boxing Group, Pashupati Kumar (60kg) of Nepali Army, Surendra Karki (57kg), Anjil Maharjan (54) of Boshigaun Sports Club, Kabindra Maharjan (51kg) of APF, Deepak Sunar (48kg) of Nepali Army and Jutin Hemran (45kg) of Jhapa.

APF dominated the women’s boxing as they won six out out eight events. Apart from Mala Rai, Pramila Pandey (48kg), Sumitra Napit (50kg), Muga Maya Pakhrin (52kg), Sanju Lama (54kg) and Deepa Chhetri gave the APF team the gold medals. Likewise, Deepa Pun of Rupandehi won the women’s 57kg gold and Anuradha Lama of Makwanpur claimed the 66kg title.

Nepal Boxing Association had organised the tournament in memory of legendary Nepali boxers Nar Bahadur Yonjon, Pushkar Dhwoj Shahi and Dal Bahadur Rana Magar. In all, 124 boxers fought for the championships in 17 weight categories - nine in men’s and eight in women’s section.