KATHMANDU: Morgan International College and TIA started the second Ganesh Man Singh Memorial Cup Inter-college Basketball Tournament with victories here on Sunday. In boys’ section, Morgan defeated TIA 43-28 riding on 15 points from Dariyo Gurung, while Karma Sherpa’s 12 points helped TIA for a 21-14 victory over Golden Gate in girls’ section. In other matches played in boys’ section, Liverpool, Bagmati, Prime, Golden Gate and Angel’s Heart registered wins. Liverpool thrashed SANN 55-22, while Bagmati routed Canvas 56-26, Prime thumped Xavier International 56-29, Golden Gate edged past Rhedon 35-15 and Angel’s Heart beat Brihaspati 35-18. A total of 24 teams are competing in the tournament where the winner will walk away with Rs 25,000, while the runners-up will receive Rs 15,000.

Athletes to depart

KATHMANDU: A 19-member team of veteran athletes will fly to France on August 2 in order to participate in World Masters Athletics Championship slated for August 4-16. Bhimsen Awale, Bal Krishna Dangol, Manish Joshi, Sabitri Khanal, Shiva Hari Khanal, Babu Krishna Maharjan, Rajman Maharjan, Ramesh Maharjan, Bishnu Malla, Indra Malla, Tri Ratna Manandhar, Deepak Kumar Ranjit, Ramesh Shakya and Krishna Kumar Shrestha will represent Nepal in the championship. Coach Bishow Ratna Manandhar, vice-president of Nepal Amateur Vetrans Athlete Committee Yagya lal Shrestha, Treasurer Bhairab Shahi, Bijay Pandey and Ram Krishna Ale Magar accompanied team.

Nadal retuns to clay

HAMBURG: Rafael Nadal heads back to the comfort of clay next week as the struggling Spaniard attempts to resolve the crisis that has gripped his game. The 29-year-old is top seed at the Hamburg Open but his decision to play a European clay tournament with the US hardcourt season just around the corner has baffled many. In a testing 2015, Nadal has seen his world ranking slump to 10 — his lowest in a decade — and lose his French Open title where he had been champion nine times. He has already been defeated 12 times this year, including just a second career loss at Roland Garros and a second round exit to German journeyman Dustin Brown at Wimbledon.

Real Madrid ink deal

GUAGNZHOU: Real Madrid have struck a deal to sell merchandise online via the Chinese platform Alibaba, the club confirmed on Sunday. “We have strengthened still more our bond with the country through this agreement with Alibaba, a globally recognised leader in online commerce,” Real president Florentino Perez said on the club website. Real Madrid are at the beginning of a pre-season tour of China where they will play friendlies against Inter Milan on Monday and AC Milan on Thursday.