Lalitpur, May 17

A 15-member boxing team today left for India to participate in the second Indian Open International Boxing Tournament to be held in Guwahati from May 19-25.

A total of 11 boxers will represent Nepal in their respective weight categories. Tribhuvan Army Club’s Tej Bahadur Deuba (52kg) and Ashish Dawadi (above-91kg), Nepal APF Club’s Prakash Limbu (60kg) and Bikash Lama (69kg), Surendra Rai of Jhapa and Nepal Police Club boxer Bhupendra Thapa (64kg) will fight in men’s section.

Likewise, TAC trio Minu Gurung (54kg), Chandra Kumari Thapa (57kg) and Poonam Rawal (64kg) will fight in women’s section along with APF boxers Mala Rai (51kg) and Sangita Sunar (60kg). Nepali women boxers Bimala Shrestha and Poonam Rawal — both from TAC — had won bronze medals in the first edition of the tournament last year.

Chief coach Prakash Thapa Magar, coaches Harish Bahadur Chand and Ramesh Das Shrestha and team manager Tarka Raj Rai accompanied the players to India.

Member of National Sports Council Arjun Bahadur KC, NIS Director Rim Bahadur Ranabhat, Nepal Boxing Association President Ram Awale and legendary boxer Suresh Singh Ale bade farewell to the team.