National Sports Briefs

Pradhan named for WC qualifiers

KATHMANDU: Nepali umpire Buddhi Bahadur Pradhan has been appointed for the ICC World Twenty20 Qualifiers 2010 slated for the United Arab Emirates (UAE) from February 9-13. Pradhan, the only Nepali in the ICC Associate and Affiliate International Umpires' Panel, will stand in four matches and will officiate two matches as third umpire in the group stage. He is also slated to stand in two Super Four matches. A total of eight teams -- Ireland, Scotland, Afghanistan, USA, Kenya, Netherlands, Canada and the UAE -- will fight for the two spots for the ICC World Twenty20 Cup to be held in the West Indies from April 30 to May 16.

Athletes off to Bangladesh

KATHMANDU: Nepali athletics team on Thursday left for Dhaka to compete in the 11th South Asian Games. The 27-member team includes 17 men, seven women, two coaches and an official. Nepal's first international medallist and Olympian Jeet Bahadur KC bade farewell to the team.

Cash announced for medallists

KATHMANDU: Balaju Karate-Do Academy announced cash prizes for the medal winning karatekas. At a separate farewell programme organised for the Academy's karatekas, president and chief coach of the Academy Dhruba Bikram Malla announced the cash prize of Rs 100,000, Rs 50,000 and Rs 25,000 each for gold, silver and bronze medal winning players. Sunil Lama, Anu Adhikari and Shubhadra Shrestha are the Academy players selected for four events.