Local round-up

Pradhan-led NOC

is legitimate’

KATHMANDU: The International Olympic Committee (IOC) and Olympic Council of Asia (OCA) have clarified that the Nepal Olympic Committee led by Dhruba Bahadur Pradhan is legitimate. “The IOC and OCA would like to reiterate that, to this date, the only recognised organization governing Olympic sports in Nepal is Nepal Olympic Committee, whose legitimate leaders were elected in the General Assembly of March 13 2007 (supervised by the IOC and OCA). The NOC is led by Dhruba Bahadur Pradhan as president and Jeevan Ram Shrestha as Secretary General,” said the IOC letter undersigned by Director of NOC Relations Department at the IOC Pere Miro and Director General and Technical Director of OCA Husain Al-Musallam. The IOC and OCA said so responding to the letter sent by Pradhan-led committee after Nepal government reinstated Rukma Shumsher Rana led committee. — HNS

Nepal beat SL team

KATHMANDU: Nepali national cricket team defeated Sri Lanka Board XI team by four wickets in the second of the three practice matches at the World Bens Club Ground, Colombo, on Friday. The home team was bowled out for 173 runs in 49.2 overs after electing to bat first. The Nepali team overcame the target losing six wickets in 40th over. Skipper Binod Das took 3-28 off 10 overs, while Sharad Vesawkar claimed 2-31 and vice captain Paras Khadka and Raj Kumar Pradhan pocketed one wicket each. The Nepali team also affected three run outs. In reply, Kanishka Chaugain top-scored with 62 runs, while Shakti Gauchan scored 47 and Paras Khadka made 26. The Nepali team is in Sri Lanka for its final preparations for the ACC Trophy (Elite) to be held in Malaysia from July 23. — HNS

Police, Army advance

KATHMANDU: Nepal Police Club (NPC) ‘A’ and Tribhuvan Army Club (TAC) ‘A’ entered the quarter-finals of the first National Men’s Beach Volleyball Tournament here on Friday. Both the NPC and TAC, who had first-round bye, got walkovers in their second round matches. In other matches of the first day, Nuwakot Volleyball Association, NPC ‘C’ and ACS ‘C’ registered wins. Nuwakot beat ACS ‘A’ 21-19, 14-21, 15-12 in which Hari Tamang of the winning team was declared the man of the match. The NPC ‘C’ defeated Sindhupalchowk District Volleyball Association 21-17, 21-14. Dhruba Poudel of NPC ‘C’ was named the man of the match. In the last match, ACS ‘C’ outplayed Dhorpatan Volleyball Training Club 21-18, 21-12. A total of 27 teams are taking part in the tournament which has been organized by Nepal Volleyball Association. Earlier, Member Secretary of National Sports Council Jeevan Ram Shrestha inaugurated the tournament. — HNS

Golden Gate in final

KATHMANDU: Both the Golden Gate teams entered the men’s section final of the first Fr Donnelly Open 3 on 3 Basketball Tournament. In the best-of-five semi-finals, Golden Gate ‘A’ defeated ABCW 21-7, 21-5, 21-15, while the ‘B’ team registered a 21-14, 17-21, 10-21, 21-7, 21-15 victory over Kathmandudes. In the women’s section, Snow Leopard made it to the final defeating Valley Public 21-8, 21-6. They will face Rato Bangala in the final. — HNS

C Division qualifying

KATHMANDU: New Generation Youth Club, Varsity Football Club and Samudayik Sewa Griha entered the Group D quarter-finals of the Martyrs Memorial ‘C’ Division league qualifying tournament here on Friday. In the day’s matches at the Sano Gaucharan grounds, New Generation routed Shine Star Youth Club 5-1; Varsity outplayed Legend Club 4-2 in tie-breaker after a 1-1 draw and Samudayik beat Bishalnagar Pustakalaya 1-0 on a goal from Mahesh Rai. Bidur KC netted four goals after Shiva Baniya had put New Generation ahead in the 27th minute. Prabin Thapa scored the consolation goal for Shine Star. — HNS

NBA team departs

KATHMANDU: General Secretary of Nepal Badninton Association ramji Bahadur Shrestha and secretary Birendra Shrestha left for Malaysia to take part in the annual general assembly of Asian Badminton Federation to be held there on July 20 and 21. General Secretary Shrestha is scheduled to present the NBA’s plans and programmes in the assembly. The Nepali team will also present the audit report and minute of 2007. representatives from 42 Asian nations will attend the assembly. Member Secretary of National Sports Council Jeevan Ram Shrestha bade farewell to the team. — HNS

Chess tourney

KATHMANDU: Badri Lal Nepali, Manish Hamal, Prem Krishna Maharjan and Ratna Byanjankar shared the lead with four points each after the fourth round of the second Madan Memorial Open National Youth Chess Tournament here on Friday. In the fourth round, Nepali beat Shyam Shrestha, while Hamal defeated R Bajracharya. Maharjan overcame Bhagawati Sharma and Byanjankar overwhelmed Bijay Shrestha. A total of nine players — R Bajracharya, Shyam Shrestha, Surbir Lama, Sujendra Prasad Shrestha, Bhagawati Prasad Sharma, Sitaram Agrawal, Niraj Niraula, Raju Subedi and Uttam Raj Thapa - are joint second with three points each. — HNS