KATHMANDU: A football friendly was held between journalists and politicians at the Dasharath Stadium in Kathmandu on Wednesday.

The team of journalists led by Federation of Nepali Journalists (FNJ) President Mahendra Bista defeated the team of politicians 3-2 in the 60-minute match organised to mark the 61st establishment day of the FNJ.

The team of politicians was led by Minister for Information and Communications Sherdhan Rai.

Journalist Sundar Khanal made the decisive goal in the 59th minutes, helping his team to win. Khanal scored hat-trick in the match.

For the team of politicians, journalist Sudip Budhathoki scored an own goal while Jeevan KC scored the second goal.

The team of politicians included Home Minister Shakti Bahadur Basnet, Nepali Congress leaders Gagan Kumar Thapa, Pradeep Paudel, Ramhari Khatiwada and Gururaj Ghimire; CPN-UML leaders Bikas Lamsal, Ram Kumari Jhakri, Nabina Lama, Rajib Pahari and Madhav Dhungel; UCPN-Maoist leader Dharmashila Chapagain and Naya Shakti Nepal leader Ganga Shrestha.

Likewise, Ujir Magar, Dilip Thapa Magar, Dil Tamang and Saraswoti Dhakal were among those journalists playing the match.

Meanwhile, after the match, Minister Rai said that such events would help build intimacy between journalists and politicians.