KATHMANDU: A 28-member Nepali fencing team is leaving for Thailand to prepare for the 13th South Asian Games slated for December 1-10 in Kathmandu, Pokhara and Janakpur.

The team includes 24 players — Payas Yonzan, Amit Bhandari, Dinesh Pandey, Rajendra Gajurel, Omkar Singh, Dipendra Bista, Rajendra Shrestha, Sagar Thapa, Jalindra Shahi, Rajan Khadka, Gyanendra Timilsina and Rakesh Maharjan, Anita Karki, Januka Syangten, Sita Pathak, Indira Paudel, Kamala Shrestha, Rabina Thapa, Sikshya Napit, Asmita Basnet, Mandira Thapa, Anita Adhikari, Anju Tamang and Rama Singh — selected for SA Games.

The players will take part in the Chulalongkorn University Open Fencing Championship to be held from November 1-3 and will undergo training from November 5-20. Coaches Abhishek Karki, Sanjip Lama and Jung Giri will accompany the players to Thailand along with manager Anup Kapali. National Sports Council Member Secretary Ramesh Kumar Silwal bade farewell to the team on Friday.

Nepal Fencing Association President Sunil Kumar Shrestha announced cash rewards of Rs 200,000, Rs 100,000 and Rs 40,000 respectively to the top three medals in team event of the SA Games and Rs 50,000, Rs 25,000 and Rs 10,000 respectively for individual section medals.