Lalitpur, March 23

Nepal Taekwondo Association today selected 10 players — eight in Kyorugi and two in Poomsae — for the 18th Asian Games.

The players, who were picked up after a selection tournament at the National Training Centre in Satdobato, will receive special training for the Asiad slated for August 18 to September 2 in Jakarta, Indonesia.

Parbati Gurung and Kamal Shrestha made it in Poomsae section, which has been added from the 18th edition of the Asian sporting extravaganza, informed NTA Member and tournament convenor Badri Prasad Ghimire.

In Kyorugi, Asmita Khadka, Nima Gurung, Sangita Basyal made the cut in women’s section after winning their respective weight categories. In men’s section, Sagar Gubhaju, Bir Bahadur Mahara, Gyanendra Karki, Sakshyam Karki and Anuj Pujari were selected for the Asiad.

In women’s section, the 12th South Asian Games silver medallist Rejina Karki suffered a loss at the hands of Kajal Shrestha in the semi-final of the below-49kg weight category. Shrestha was declared the winner after both the players were tied at 24-all in regulation three rounds. But Shrestha went on to lose the final against Asmita Khadka.

Also, Nima Gurung defeated Sandhya Singh in the below-53kg weight category final, while Sangita Basyal beat Anu Lama in the 67kg final.

In men’s section, Sagar Gubhaju defeated Manoj Malla in the 58kg final, while the 12th SA Games silver medal winner Bir Bahadur Mahara outplayed Nisan Shrestha in the 63kg weight category final.

In 68kg section, Gyanendra Hamal stunned 12th SA Games silver medallist Nischal Man Shrestha, while Sakshyam Karki and Anuj Pujari were selected in men’s 80kg and 87kg sections respectively after both of them defeated Bhupendra Shrestha, who was allowed to participate in two weight categories.

Karki, the winner of the bronze medal in the 12th SA Games, had to pull out of the previous edition of the Asian Games after he was injured during training in Korea.