KATHMANDU: A 42-member Nepali squad is set to leave for Singapore on Saturday to take part in the first Youth Asian Games slated for June 29 to July 7.

Nepal is taking part in five sports disciplines — Athletics, Shooting, Basketball, Table Tennis and Swimming — in the first edition of the event. The 21 players of five disciplines will be accompanied by 22 officials including coaches and team managers. Minister for Youth and Sports Ganesh Nepali will join the squad for the closing ceremony.

Ramita Chaudhary (100m), Sandeep Gurung (100m), Manisha Adhikari (400m), Siddhant Adhikari (400m and 800m) and Yam Sajan Sunar (triple jump and High jump) are the athletes to take part in the event. Usha Kumari Chaudhary is the coach and Radha Krishna Bista the official.

In shooting, Sneh RL Rana and Juhi Chaudhary will take part in the 10m Air Rifle event. Pradip Khati is the coach. Ace swimmer Karishma Karki, who won 12 gold medals at the fifth National Games in April, will swim in the 50m Freestyle, while Banin Sensha Shrestha will participate in the 50m Breaststroke. They will be accompanied by coach Ishwor Karki.

Rojina Deshar, Pradeep Rokka, Sonu Kumar Gupta and Elina Maharjan are set to participate in the singles and mixed doubles events in Table Tennis. Sunil Kumar Yonjan is the coach and Chatura Nanda Baidhya the team official.

In basketball, Rajaswee Shah, Samichin Bista, Nora Asha Gurung and Shiwa Karmacharya in girls’ section and Sagar Thapa, Norbu Chhiring Lama, Widid Ratna Tamrakar and Siddhartha Maharjan in boys’ category will play in the three-on-three events. Bipendra Maharjan and Biku Maharjan are the coaches with Lama Tendi Sherpa and Helga Rana Rayamajhi are the officials.

Minister Nepali bade farewell to the team amidst a ceremony. Vice President of National Sports Council Sita Ram Maskey, Member Secretary Jeevan Ram Shrestha and Nepal Olympic Committee President Dhruba Bahadur Pradhan were also present on the occasion.