Kathmandu, July 10:

Jutin Hemran of Jhapa and Raju Maharjan of Meghdoot Boxing Club (MBC) advanced to the semi-finals in the men’s 45kg bout during the second Junior Men and Women’s Open Boxing Tournament here today.

Hemran dispatched Bikash Nagarkoti of MBC and Maharjan defeated Anil Gautam of Rolpa in the quarter-finals. Joining them in the last four were Ganesh Bahadur Budhathoki of Surkhet and Sabin Nepali of Makwanpur. Budhathoki overcame Shyam Nagarkoti of MBC and Nepali saw off Shyam Verma of Banke.

Entering the semi-finals in the men’s 48kg section were Ratna Lama of MBC, Saran Maharjan of Boshigaun Sports Club (BSC), Deepak Sunuwar of Nepali Army and Resham Lama of Mahendra Khadka Memorial Foundation.

Ratna beat Sabin Karki of Nepal Youth Boxing Group (NYBG), Saran defeated Subhash Neupane of Central Boxing Training Centre (CBTC), Deepak overcame Manoj Dangol of NYBG, and Resham ousted Shanker Maharjan of MBC.

Advancing to the last four in the men’s 51kg section were Umesh Rijal of Tikathali, Sudesh Mahandhar of Makwanpur, Srimat Soren of Jhapa and Kabindra Maharjan of Armed Police Force.

Likewise, Krishna Rai of Jhapa, Satya Ram Koju of Patan Boxing Club, Anjil Maharjan of Boshigaun and Raju Raj Shahi of CBTC also made it to the last four in the men’s 54kg section.

Meanwhile, lifelong president of Nepal Boxing Association Bishnu Gopal Shrestha announced Rs 25,000 award in five different categories. The best male and female boxers will receive Rs 5,000 each and so will the winners in the 48kg, 57kg and 60kg sections.

The three individual awards were announced in honour of three great Nepali boxers

late Puskar Dhowj Shahi (48kg), late Nara Bahadur Yonjon (57kg) and late Dal Bahadur Rana

Magar (60kg).