Caroli claims trophy

POKHARA: Caroli Poche of France claimed the second Pokhara Homes Tennis Tournament here on Saturday. Poche upset Ritu Gurung 7-6, 6-4 to win the trophy. The organisers rescheduled the final after Poche

was set to give up the final for sight-seeing on Sunday. The men’s title favourite Bikash Gurung was ousted from the tournament after suffering 4-6, 7-6, 6-3 loss to Anil Shahi in the semi-finals. — HNS

Nantes hold N Korea

LA-ROCHE-SUR-YON: Playing their first match in Europe in 43 years, North Korea failed to impress in a scoreless draw with French second-division club Nantes on Friday. The North Korea team, in France as part of preparations for next year’s World Cup, is back in Europe for the first time since its epic run at the 1966 World Cup in England, when it ousted Italy on the way to the quarter-finals before losing 5-3 to Portugal. The team will play another friendly against the Republic of Congo on Tuesday. North Korea qualified for the World Cup by finishing second in their group behind South Korea. — AP