Kathmandu, March 29

Nepal and Sri Lanka began the first South Asian Women's Basketball Championship with victories here at the National Sports Council covered hall today.

Nepal thrashed Bangladesh 92-26 riding on Sneha Shrestha's allround performance. She scored 25 points, took 21 rebounds and had six assists. Luniva Singh netted 15 points and took nine rebounds, while Bhawana Lama scored 12 points.

Nepal dominated the match from the beginning despite having foul trouble early. Nepal took a 20-10 lead in the first period and extended the lead to 27 points in the next quarter when they added another 20 points and conceded just three.

Shrestha rose high in the third period netting 14 points alone as the hosts widened the lead to 54 points. Nepal scored 31 points in the third quarter, while Bangladesh managed just four. Nepal played good defensive game allowing only two baskets to Bangladesh. Nepal also dominated the final period scoring 21 points, while the tourists netted nine. Natasha top scored for the visitors with eight points.

Nepal's coach Bikash Shahi said the players could not play as expected in the first period. “The players took time to get settled and there was no looking back,” said Shahi. “The girls took control of the match from the second quarter and scored freely,” he added. Bangladesh coach Ronjit Chandro Das was happy with the performance of his girls. “This is our first tournament and we came here for exposure. Nepal is a good team and they performed well. The home court was also an advantage for them,” he added.

In the day’s first match, Sri Lanka thrashed the Maldives 106-39 riding on 25 points from Silva Kumarine. Sri Lanka took the first period 27-10 and extended their lead taking the second quarter 22-8. Sri Lanka then won the third period 22-12 and thrashed Maldives 34-9 in the final quarter. Raipa Ibralin netted six points for Maldives.

Earlier, member secretary of National Sports Council Keshab Kumar Bista, president of Nepal Olympic Committee Jeevan Ram Shrestha and South Asian Basketball Association president Ahmed Hafiz among others inaugurated the tournament. Teams from five South Asian nations are taking part in the tournament.

SABA president Hafiz was happy to watch the first edition of the championship. “This is a great platform for the South Asian women players as we could not hold the tournament in the 12th SA Games in India last month,” Hafiz said.