Karatekas depart

KATHMANDU: A four member Nepali Karate team left for China on Sunday to participate in the ninth AKF Senior Karate Championship slated for September 24-28 in Guangzhou. The players leaving for the championship were Binod Shakya (80kg), Ram Sharan Twati (above-80kg), Parashuram Bastola (individual kata) and Subhadra Shrestha (individual kata). Another karateka Srijana Tamang could not participate as she was denied visa by the Chinese Embassy. — HNS

Honey advances

KATHMANDU: Honey Shrestha of Macchegaun Taekwondo Dozang and Lina Budhathoki of hosts Matatirtha Taekwondo Dozang ‘A’ reached to the women’s 35-38kg category semi-finals at the second Valleywide Invitational Taekwondo Tournament. Bibek Malla of hosts ‘B’ team, Sudan Pujari of Dhalko, Kundan Lama of Laiku and Santosh Lama of Reep Model School entered the last four in men’s 63-67kg. Meanwhile, Sameer Dahal of New Baneswor, Jayaram Chaudhary of Emile, Suman Shrestha of hosts ‘A’ team and Shyam Ale of Laiku entered the men’s 54-58kg section quarter-finals. In the men’s 40-43kg, Bibek Rai of Baneswor, Krishna Tamang of Reep Model, Suresh Karki of Balaju and Biplav Khadka of Peoples’ entered the semi-finals. Entering in the men’s 36-39kg semi-finals were Dhiraj Shrestha of Laiku, Dinesh Rai of Dhalko, Sudarshan Puri of Mulpani and Santosh Magar of Boys Union. — HNS