KATHMANDU: Nepal Judo Association (NJA), in coordination with Saptari District Sports Development Committee and Saptari District Judo Association, is organising the third Open National Judo Tournament in Rajbiraj from December 17 to 18.

In all, 120 men and 60 women judokas representing 18 districts, Nepal Police Nepali Army and Multiple Martial Arts Centre (MMAC) will vie for championships in 12 weight categories — 50kg, 55kg, 60kg, 66kg, 73kg and Open in men’s and 40kg, 44kg, 48kg, 52kg, 57kg and Open in women’s section.

Players selected for the 11th South Asian Games will not be allowed to play in the tournament, informed NJA President Deepak Harsha Bajracharya here at a press meet today.

Seven players in as many weight categories — below-60kg, below-66kg, below-79kg, below-81kg, below-90kg, below-100kg and above-100kg — have been selected for the SA Games slated for January 29 to February 9 in Dhaka next year.

NJA President Bajracharya also informed that winners of the Rajbiraj tournament will represent Nepal in the Rajiv Gandhi International Judo Tournament scheduled for February 20-22 next year in Jaipur, India.

Meanwhile, NJA is organising a tournament on Saturday to pick two women for the SA Games. The women events were included only recently following requests from the regional teams. Nepal will field below-52kg and below-63kg women players in the regional games. The NJA is also organising tournament for veteran players on Saturday.

As each country can only field a maximum seven weight categories, two male players are set to lose their place for the SA Games.

Bajracharya said they are observing the game of the seven players and will decide on the final five men later on. “The two players to be omitted from the SA Games will be given the opportunity to participate in the Rajiv Gandhi International Judo Tournament,” said NJA President Bajracharya.

Bajracharya also revealed that their association is set to send the final SA Games squad for training to Bhopal, India on December 22. “For that we are working out details with the National Sports Council,” added Bajracharya.