Nobel beat British Gurkha

KATHMANDU: On the occasion of the 54th birthday of Her Majesty Queen Komal Rajya Laxmi Shah, Xavier International Higher Secondary School and College organised a week-long Xavier International Cup football tournament which concluded today. In the finals of the tournament, Nobel Academy beat British Gurkha College 8-0. Suvash Rai of Nobel Academy was ‘Man of the match’. For the third place, Gyanodaya College defeated Prime College 8-1. — HNS

Deneb Sports Meet

KATHMANDU: Deneb International School organised its annual sports meet today. Principal of the school D R Pandey inaugurated the function. There were altogether 26 events held in the meet. In 500m race for boys, Ramesh Dong, Mohammad Ashraf and Ujjowol Pradhananga stood first, second and third respectively and winners in girls category were Neelmony Lama, Joya Banu and Chandeshwori Kayastha. Similarly, in the senior boys Table Tennis, Ramesh Dong was first, Tshering Lama, second and Abhimanyu, K C third. — HNS

Duff, Crespo back

LONDON: Damien Duff and Hernan Crespo have won their fight for fitness to join Chelsea’s Champions League trip to Stuttgart. Republic of Ireland winger Duff missed Saturday’s Premiership defeat to Arsenal with an Achilles problem and Argentine striker Crespo was ruled out by a high temperature — but both are in the squad for Wednesday’s match in Germany. Carlo Cudicini returns in goal after a groin injury but striker Adrian Mutu is out after being kicked on the thigh in Saturday’s match at Stamford Bridge. — AP

Martinez advances

BOGOTA: Former Wimbledon champion Conchita Martinez of Spain defeated Eva Birnerova of the Czech Republic 7-6, 6-3 to reach the second round of the Copa Colsanitas. Also, Ludmila Cervanova of Slovakia got past Tathiana Garbin of Italy 7-6, 4-6, 6-3, and Megan Falcon of the United States beat Gala Leon Garcia of Spain 6-2, 6-2. — AP

Ashia Hansen withdraws

LONDON: British triple jumper Ashia Hansen won’t defend her World Indoor title, UK Athletics said on Tuesday. Hansen returned to competition last Friday after almost a year out with an Achilles injury, winning the triple jump at the indoor meet in Birmingham, England. She’ll skip the March 5-7 meet in Budapest, Hungary, to concentrate on the Athens Olympics in August. — AFP

Steve Kefu cleared

BRISBANE: Wallaby center Steve Kefu has been cleared of a doping offense by the Australian Rugby Union and allowed to return to training and playing for Queensland. Kefu, who was given the steroid Prednisone to treat a viral infection that causes facial paralysis, was barred from training with his Queensland Reds Super 12 squad on Monday while the ARU considered his case. — AP

England ‘A’ beaten

NEW DELHI: England ‘A’ cricketers suffered an embarrasing defeat on Tuesday on their current tour of India when they were thrashed by six wickets despite setting an imposing 501-run target. South Zone posted the fourth-highest total to win a first-class match in history, amassing 503-4 to stun the tourists on the final day of the Duleep Trophy match. Middle-order batsman Venugopal Rao, member of India’s under-19 World Cup-winning team in Sri Lanka, led the carnage with an unbeaten 228. — HNS