Former athlete killed

KATHMANDU: Former short distance national athlete Puspa Bhatta was shot dead by an unidentified group a week ago in Handia, Allahabad. Bhatta also served National Sports Council as an athletics coach for seven years, said Nepal Athletics Association in a press release on Friday. Bhatta and eight other friends, who were returning to Banaras from a religious tour, were indiscrminately shot dead in Allahabad, the release added. — HNS

Pakistan beat Nepal

KATHMANDU: Nepal is out of the Thomos Cup qualifying badminton tournament held at Jaypur, India after losing all its matches against Pakistan on Friday. The tournament was a qualifier for the Thomos Cup to be held at Tokyo in March. Pashupati Paneru went down 12-21, 16-21 against Wazid Khand, Jisan Khan beat Balram Thapa 21-16, 21-16 and Indra Mahata lost to Asim Kumar 7-21, 7-21. Pakistan also defeated both the Nepali pairs in the doubles. Pashupati and Balram went down 16-21, 20-22 while Indra and Ram Singh lost 21-19, 16-21, 11-21. India qualified for the Tokyo tournament. — HNS