King’s Cup Boxing

KATHMANDU: Deepak Maharjan of Nepal advanced to the 81kg semi-finals assuring at least a bronze medal at the 32nd King's Cup Boxing Tournament held in Thailand. On Sunday, Maharjan knocked out a Singporean boxer in the second round when he was leading 7-0. He will play against a Korean in the semi-finals on Monday. This is the first time Nepal are assured of a medal in the King's Cup history. Of the four Nepali boxers in the tournament, all the other three lost on Sunday. Dinesh Shrestha was beaten by a Korean opponent in the 57kg, while Sushil Ghimire lost to a Thai opponent in the 64kg and Laxman Saud fell at the hands of a Philippines boxer in the 51kg.

Deepak feted in Seoul

KATHMANDU: The Nepali sports fans living and working in Seoul feted the four-time South Asian Games taekwondo gold medallist Deepak Bista with cash rewards. The Nepalese society feted the record making taekwondo ace Bista with Rs 200,000 in Seoul on Sunday. The amount was collected by Nepal-Korea Business Association (NKBA), Sports Association, Far Western Society. Nepali Ambassador to Nepal Kamal Prasad Koirala among others honoured the player. The programme was held on the sidelines of the Liaison Office Conference of the Federation of Nepali Journalists (FNJ). FNJ President Dharmendra Jha, NKBA Chairman Madan KC and Sports Association president and eighth SAG karate gold medallist Rabi Maharjan were present at the occasion.

NOC prez criticized

KATHMANDU: Gymnastic coaches on Sunday raised serious objection over the statement of the former Nepal Gymnastic Association (NGA) and Nepali Olympic Committee (NOC) president Dhruba Bahadur Pradhan regarding the development of Nepali gymnastics. Issuing a press release, the coaches said Pradhan have done nothing in the development of gymnastics as it remained one of the most passive sports during his 15-years tenure. In a press meet on April 1, Pradhan had said the NGA have been active bringing various programmes during his term and opposed National Sports Council's (NSC) move of dissolving the association. Terming Pradhan's statement a false, the coaches also backed NSC move to replace Pradhan with former NSC Member Secretary Kishor Bahadur Singh.

IBA to assist NeBA

KATHMANDU: The Indian Basketball Association (IBA) have assured Nepal Basketball Association (NeBA) to donate basketball kits worth IRs 300,000. After returning from the Annual General Meeting (AGM) of the Middle Asia Zone Basketball Federation (MAZBF), the NeBA president Lama Tendi Sherpa informed the IBA has assured him of providing mats, scoreboards and 24 seconds clock. Lama informed the MAZBF also approved Nepal's proposal of splitting the regional zone into two halves and sent it for the next AGM of FIBA Asia to be held in this November. There are 13 nations in the middle Asia zone including Nepal. Lama also informed the NeBA is looking forward to hosting an international level U-19 Basketball Tournament targeting the Nepal Tourism Year 2011. According to Lama the tournament will include the national U-19 teams from Japan, South Korea, Hong Kong along with South Asian countries.

National Karate

KATHMANDU: The Sindhupalchowk chapter of the Nepal Karate Federation (NKF) and the Nepal Wadokai Karate Association are jointly organising the fourth National Karate and Kickboxing tournament from April 9-10. A total of 350 players from five development regions will compete in 29 events including men’s junior and senior and women's section. — HNS