KATHMANDU: Nisha Lama of Bagmati and Rebika Manandhar of Janakpur advanced to the women’s open section pre-quarters at the 15th National Men’s Open and eighth National Women’s Full Contact Karate Championship on Friday.

In women’s Under-55kg section, Jyoti Lama of Janakpur, Nirmala Bajracharya of Dhaulagiri, Renu Singh of Dhaulagiri, Deepa Aangba of Seti, Dikshya Thakuri of Seti and Basanti Ghalan of Sagarmatha entered the pre-quarters.

Birendra Oli of Bagmati and Binod Rana Magar of Lumbini entered the last 16 in the men’s open weight category. Others who made it to the pre-quarters were Dipendra Shrestha of Rapti, Bhim Jung Khawas of Seti, Ram Surat Tamauli of Sagarmatha, Manish Shakya of Bagmati, Anil Gurung of Karnali, Laxmi Acharya of Koshi and Resham Adhikari of Lumbini.

Earlier, Japanese Ambassador to Nepal Tatsuo Mizuno inaugurated the two-day event at the National Sports Council covered hall. In all, 32 players in men’s section and 48 in women’s sections are taking part. The top four players in men’s section will earn Rs 30,000, Rs 15,000, Rs 7,500 and Rs 3,500 respectively, while the top four in the women’s categories will receive Rs 8,000, Rs 4,000, Rs 2,000 and Rs 1,000.