Nepal in semis

KATHMANDU: Nepal advanced to the semi-finals of the Bodoland Martyrs Memorial Gold Cup International Invitational Volleyball Tournament in Assam on Friday. The national team of Nepal defeated title favourites Punjab Police 25-18, 23-25, 25-16, 25-13 to top the Group B. Punjab were the last year’s runners up of the tournament. Nepal earned a walkover from the NF Railway team that helped them finish on top of the group. Nepal had defeated Eastern Railway in the first league match. Nepal will take on hosts Kokrajhar BTC in the semi-finals.

Golden Gate through

LALITPUR: Golden Gate and Xavier International College entered the semi-finals of the first Friendship Football Cup. At the ANFA Complex, Satdobato, Golden Gate defeated St Lawrence College 3-1 on goals from Jagjeet Shrestha, Bishal Rai and Sulav Maskey. Sujan Rai replied for Golden Gate. Xavier International saw off Caspian Valley College 2-0 riding on goals from Bisbhusan KC and Govin Gurung. In the other match, Pinnacle College registered a comprehensive 5-0 win over Columbus. Santosh Maharjan and Bharat Khawas scored a brace each while Bikash Singh Chhetri added another.

Gyanodaya enter final

KATHMANDU: Hosts Gyanodaya Bal Batika and Deepjyoti entered the boys’ volleyball final at the 16th Eicher Gyan Carnival here on Friday. Gyanodaya defeated Annal Jyoti 25-15, 25-8, 21-25, 26-24, while Deepjyoti beat Venus 26-24, 25-23, 22-25, 27-25. In boys’ basketball, Rohan netted 22 points as GEMS beat Galaxy 45-37 and Siddhartha outplayed Prithvi 51-28 riding on Kiran’s 20 points.

Kantipur advance

KATHMANDU: NIMS, Kantipur and hosts Unique advanced to the girls’ semi-finals at the fifth Unique Inter-school Valleywide Basketball Tournament. On Friday, NIMS defeated Advance 21-8, Kantipur beat NOBS 21-14 and Unique outplayed Lumbini 11-0. In senior boys’ three-on-three section, NOBS defeated Teresa 16-13 and returned to beat Cambridge 26-12 to enter the quarter-finals. Also, Constellation beat Kantipur 30-13 and Unique ‘A’ saw off NIMS 33-10 to reach the last eight. In junior boys’ section, Unique beat Daffodil 23-18 and Wilson earned a walk over win from Maha Majnushree to book their places in the quarter-finals.

Ever Young win

KATHMANDU: Hosts Newton, Ever Young ‘B’ and Kamana registered wins at the second Newton Valleywide Inter-school Volleyball Tournament. In the boys’ section matches, Newton defeated Nagarjun Academy 25-15, 25-9, while Ever Young beat Angels Heart 25-20, 25-19 and Kamana laboured to a 25-11, 21-25, 25-13 win over Newton ‘B’. In girls’ category, AIA beat SEB 25-17, 10-25, 25-21; Angels Heart defeated Kamana 25-12, 25-9; and New Diamond saw off Gyan Sudha 25-4, 25-13. Earlier, National Sports Council Vice-president Pitambar Timsina honoured national referee KB Rana and Durga Prasad Dulal of NSC with felicitation letter and Rs 3,000 each during the inauguration ceremony. The organisers have planned to honour the Pulsar Popular Player of the Year Manju Gurung at the closing ceremony.

34 referees pass exams

KATHMANDU: Thirty four referees, including 14 females, passed their exams at the National Referee Seminar organised by Nepal Shotokan Karate Association (SKIF). In all, 45 referees had participated in the seminar. Member Secretary of National Sports Council Hari Babu Chaudhary handed over the certificates to the referees who passed the exams. NSC Vice-president Pitambar Timsina and Member Samim Miya Ansari were also present on the occasion.