Kathmandu, December 15

Dinesh Shrestha of Nepal Police Club qualified for the 12th South Asian Games with a victory in the selection tournament here at the Dasharath Stadium on Tuesday.

Shrestha defeated Arjun Sigu of Tribhuvan Army Club in the final of the 56kg weight category. All the winners of the 10 weight groups, including three women boxers, were picked for the regional games to be held in India next year. In 49kg final, Tej Bahadur Deuba of TAC defeated Ganesh Bohara of Bajura, while Prem Chaudhary of TAC beat Shakti Lama of Naxal in 52kg final.

Likewise, Dan Bahadur Darlami of TAC defeated Bhupendra Thapa of NPC in 60kg, while Deepak Shrestha of TAC beat Nivash Tandukar of Naxal in 64kg and Bikash Lama of APF qualified for the regional games with a victory over Umesh Rijal of Lalitpur in 69kg section. Dipesh Lama of TAC beat fellow teammate Mahendra KC in 75kg category.

In women’s section, Minu Gurung of TAC beat Diwana Sherma of NPC in the 48-51kg final, while Saraswoti Rana Magar of APF defeated Niru Gurung of TAC in the 57-60kg category and Sangita Sunar of APF thumped Pramila Pandey in 69-75kg. A total of 51 men and 17 women boxers participated in the selection tournament. The selected boxers will be kept in camp.

Shrestha selected

LALITPUR: Lifter Dinesh Shrestha of Tribhuvan Army Club (TAC) bettered his national record during the selection tournament for the 12th South Asian Games here on Tuesday. Shrestha lifted 116kg in snatch, one kilo more than his previous mark set during the Asian Championship in September. Shrestha finished first in 94kg weight category to earn the berth in the regional games. Others who were selected included Prakash KC of Banke in 56kg, Bikram Thapa of NPC in 62kg, Anil Malla of NPC in 69kg, Surendra Shrestha of APF in 77kg, Bhairabh Singh Thapa of TAC in 85kg, Gagan Singh Oli of TAC in below-105kg and Pukar Gurung of TAC in 105kg weight categories.

NHA finalises squad

KATHMANDU: Nepal Handball Association announced the women’s squad for the 12th South Asian Games here on Tuesday. Ankita Chaudhary, Bandana Rai, Pema Sherpa Prabha Thapa Sadhana Ban and Uma Rai of Nepal APF Club, Bishnu Bogati, Dev Kumari Baskota, Ram Kumari Chaudhary and Shantikala Rai of Tribhuvan Army Club, and Jeena Rai, Kabita Rai, Nisha Rai and Ranjana Rai of Udayapur were picked up after the selection tournament, informed the NHA general secretary Sandesh Regmi.