Nepal’s dominance continues in India

KATHMANDU: Nepali players’ dominance in the Lions Kamrupa-Nepal Friendly Chess Tournament continued in Guwahati on Thursday. Junior Nepal champion Nikesh Duwal beat Siddhantha Khemka in the fifth and Barsha Chhetri in the sixth round. Robin Sunuwar also won fifth and sixth round matches. Also winning were Madan Krishna Kayastha, Robin Sunuwar, Sourav Pradhan, Prashant Bhasima, Shree Krishna Prajapati, Bijan Man Thaiba, Sajin Maharjan and Maniswor Thapa. — HNS

Chess team departs

KATHMANDU: A 24-member Nepali Chess Association (NCA) team left for Orissa on Thursday for the International Open Gand Master Chess Tournament. The team includes 24 players and three officials. Badri Lal Nepali, Bilam Lal Shrestha, Manish Hamal, Lav Kumar Shresha, Rajendra Prasad Shrestha, Niraj Niraula, Bhagawati Sharma, Prem Krishna Maharjan, Suman Suwal, Rajesh Kachhepati, Rajendra Rai, Niranjan Prajapati, Umesh KC, Maniraj Dangi, Gyanendra Prasad Shrestha, Indra Kumar Basnet, Rajendra Rijal, Bijay Gurung, Sujendra Shrestha, Balram Napit and Bikram Priya will represent Nepal in the Rs 1.6 million tournament, said the NCA. Among the officials to accompany the players are NCA member Ram Surat Prasad Shah, FIDE Arbiter Bidur Prasad Gautam and National Arbiter Bijay Thapa. Three junior players — Nikesh Duwal, Prajwol Raj Rajopadhyaya and Prakash Nepal — will join the team from Guwahati where they are currently participating in the Lions Kamrupa-Nepal Friendly Chess Tournament. — HNS

New Diamond win

KATHMANDU: New Diamond and Deep Jyoti advanced to the girls’ section quarter-finals of the first Kathmandu District President Running Shield Inter-school Tournament. New Diamond overcame Samakhushi English Boarding (SEB) School 25-18, 25-19 and Deep Jyoti defeated Bright Future 25-18, 25-11. Entering the last eight in the boys’ section were Deep Jyoti and Mangal School. Deep Jyoti beat Newton 25-14, 17-25, 25-22 and Mangal saw off Bhagwati School 25-19, 16-25, 25-17. — HNS

Gyan Niketan triumph

KATHMANDU: Gyan Niketan, Campion, Rose Bud and hosts Kathmandu Valley won their matches at the first Kathmandu Valley Inter-school Basketball Tournament. Gyan Niketan defeated Nalanda 67-61, Campion edged past Nerik 64-54, Rose Bud sneaked past Greenland 52-51 and Kathmandu Valley beat New Summit 66-56 in the boys’ section. In girls’ matches, Valley Public beat Deep Jyoti 32-13, New Summit crushed Kathmandu Valley 21-7 and Rose Bud overcame Sri Diwa 15-14. — HNS

Wilson Hoops 2009

KATHMANDU: Hosts Wilson Academy ‘A’ and Unique entered the senior boys’ section semi-finals in the Wilson Hoops 2009 ninth Inter-school Basketball Tournament. Wilson defeated Daffodil 64-56 riding on 26 points from Anil Pandey while Uniqe ousted Arniko 78-56 with Bikas Gurung netting 32 points. In girls’ section, Kantipur beat Teresa 41-16 riding on 22 points from Samikchhya Malla. — HNS

Dandi-Biyo tourney

KATHMANDU: Nepal Dandi-Biyo Association is organising the first Panther National Inter-association Dandi-Biyo Tournament here from Friday. In all, 32 teams are taking part in the six-day tournament, said the organisers here on Thursday. Top three teams will receive Rs 20,000, Rs 15,000 and Rs 10,000 respectively. — HNS

ITF players selected

KATHMANDU: Gandaki on Thursday selected six men and four women players for the fifth General Choi Memorial National Taekwondo (ITF) Tournament to be held here on June 14 and 15. Durga Thapa (25-30kg), Nawaraj Gurung (31-35), Sangam Pun (36-40), Rabi Gurung (45-50), Sanjay Sunar (51-55) and Suraj Sunar (56-60) in men’s section and Ashmita Tamang (25-30kg), Krishna Gurung (41-45), Lalita Sunar (46-50) and Sapana Gurung (56-60kg) in women’s section were picked for the event. — HNS