SAG medalists feted

KATHMANDU: Madan Bhandari Sports Academy felicitated the 11th South Asian Games medalists here on on Tuesday. Constituent Assembly Chairman Subhash Chandra Nembang feted the Nepali medalists with letters of appreciation and garlands. "It's the collective responsibility to honour the players, who are the national treasure" said Nembang on the occasion. CPN-UML leader KP Sharma Oli, Information and Communication Minister Shanker Pokharel, Youth and Sports Minister Ganesh Nepal among others were present on the occasion. The record setting taekwondo ace Deepak Bista said the players did everything they could to make the nation proud despite numerous setbacks. "But it's pity that the government has not given sports the due importance," rued Bista who became the first South Asian players to win fourth successive gold medals in Dhaka.

Double win for Hamal

KATHMANDU: FIDE Master Manish Hamal, former Nepal champions Punya Man Karmacharya and Naveen Tandukar continued their winning streak at the Makhan Rating Chess Tournament on Tuesday. After the completion of third round, all three players have scripted three points on the board. Manish defeated Dharma Bahadur Lama in the second round before outplaying Niraj Niraula in the second while Punya Man and Naveen also won two rounds matches on Tuesday. Sujendra Prasad Shrestha, Rajendra Prasad Shrestha,Shyam Sundar Shrestha, UttamRaj Thapa, Premkrishna Maharjan and Rajan Puri have 2.5 points after the third round. The biggest disappointment of the day was Shyam Sundar's unset win over current Nepal champion Badri Lal Nepal in the third round. Dharma, Niraj Niraula, Sajan Pande, Hari Subba, Ganeshman Duwal and Prachanda Man Malakar have two points each.

Chhetri felicitated

KATHMANDU: The fourth Korean Open Taekwondo Championship gold medalist Raju Chhetri was feted in Seoul on Tuesday. Nepal's Ambassador to South Korea Kamal Prasad Koirala felicitated the player during the Ramailo Ramjham-2010 function organised by the Rupandehi Liaison Committee, South Korea. Apart from winning the Korean Open, Chhetri has recently earned the WTF Refereeing certificate. President of the Rupandehi Liaison Committee, South Korea Surendra Baral and President of NRN South Korea Binod Kunwar were also present on the occasion.

MMC elect Ghale

KATHMANDU: The General Assembly of Nepal's top flight football club Manang Marshyangdi Club (MMC) on Monday has unanimously elected a new 14-member executive committee under the presidency of Tashi Ghale. Ghale, who is also the founder of the club, is currently the General Secretary of Nepal Golf Association. The new executive committee includes vice-president duo Tenzing Gurung and Sorim Gurung (Jimmy). KC Gurung is the General Secretary of the newly formed committee while Tshering Gurung is the Secretary. Kancha Gurung and Tshering Dorje Gurung were elected as the treasurer and joint treasurer respectively. The members in the committee include Tshering Lopsang Gurung, Tshering Netu, Siddhi Gurung, Kancha Gurung, Sunam Ghale (Surya) Tshering Wangdel Ghale and Tshering Wangdel Gurung.

Birendra Sainik thru

KATHMANDU: Birendra Sainik Awasiya Mahavidhyalaya and Merry Land Public Higher Secondary School reached to the semi-finals of the Vidyadayini Inter-school Basketball Tournament here on Tuesday. In the first match of the day, Birendra Sainik defeated Sudesha Higher Secondary School 29-23 riding on 10 points from Pukar Shah. Rajiv Bhandari of Sudesha top scored in the match with 16 points. Merry Land meanwhile eased past CVM Secondary School of Bhaktapur 39-13 to set the date with Birendra Sainik. Mount Sinai English Secondary School will play Adarsha Janapremi Higher secondary school in the other semi-final.