Chess team departs

KATHMANDU: A three-member Nepali chess team left for India on Saturday to participate in the Asian Zonal Chess Tournament slated for August 9-17 in New Delhi. Former Nepal champion Surbir Lama and national women’s champion Monalisa Khambu will represent Nepal in the tournament played under round robin league. Fide Arbitor Bidur Prasad Gautam also accompanied the team. In all 22 players — 12 men and 10 women — from Nepal, India, Banglandesh, Pakistan, Sri Lanka, Maldives and Bhutan will compete for the championships. The men’s event will be of 11 rounds while the women’s tournament comprises nine rounds . — HNS

Nepal’s challenge over

KATHMANDU: The Nepali players lost their doubles matches at the Asia Youth Under-16 Badminton Championship in Sri Lanka today. In the pre-quarter-final stage, the Nepali team of Dipesh Dhami and Arun Gurung lost to 21-16, 21-18 at the hands of Sri Lankan duo Chamika Karunaratne and Pamodha Hitirachi. With the

loss, Nepal’s challenge in the tournament is over. “We had a chance to enter the quarter-finals but the poor service from us shattered our dreams,” said Anup. “We should have won the match but the players repeated the same mistakes again and again,” said coach Meghraj Kathayat. A total of four Nepali players had participated in the tournament that runs through Sunday. — HNS

Coaching course ends

KATHMANDU: A Special Kickboxing Coaching Course, organised by Nepal Kickboxing Association (NKA), concluded here at the Central Dojo on Saturday. Italian sixth DAN Enrico Ciampoli conducted the month-long course to the 50 participants. After the completion of the course, the participants were also handed over the certificates. Meanwhile, karate coach Deepak Shrestha has been recognised as the kickboxing chief coach by the World Association of Kick Boxing Organisation. Shrestha informed that the NKA was in the process of being registered at the District Administration Office. — HNS