RCT enters semis with easy win

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KATHMANDU, Jan 11- RCT crushed Sikkim 7-2 today in the Birthday Cup football tournament played here at Dasarath Stadium, Tripureswor.

Three minutes through the game, closest scoring chance fell in the hands of Sikkim’s Jordan Kauthak , who struck at the goal from the close range to lead RCT 1-0. The Sikkimese thus had a perfect start.

However, the RCT picked up the pace overpowering Sikkim when Bal Gopal, RCT Captain converted the cross pass from Binod Shahi into a goal to equalise in the 19th minute.

Minutes later, Narayan Manandhar of RCT missed a close chance when he missed the strike as Sikkim defender tipped it off the post.

RCT broke a 1-1 tie as striker Nirajan Rayamajhi scored his first goal in the 38th minute to make a 2-1 lead over Sikkim. In what it looked like an unfortunate day for the visitors, Nirajan Rayamajhi and Narayan Manandhar struck one each in the 42nd and 44th minute respectively to lead 4-1 over Sikkim in the first half.

The unrelenting efforts from Sikkim in search of goals didn’t pay off in the second half as RCT played a vigorous attacking game not looking contented with a three-goal lead.

Sikkim finally got their second goal when K.C. Duwal netted the second goal from the box for his team in the 50th minute after he wonderfully converted the long pass from Jordan Kauthak.

But as fate would have it, Nirajan Rayamajhi of RCT scored after three minutes upsetting the Sikkimese who squandered a couple of shots.

Nirajan Rayamajhi stunned the visitors by adding one more to his hat trick in the 65th minute to make the score 6-2 as time wore on.

Raj Kumar Shrestha scored the last goal for the team in the 77th minute there by defeating Sikkim by a stunning margin.

Jordan Kauthak squandered a crucial chance to score after he struck in carefree style at the ball from the inner box in the later stage of the second half.

Tashi Rapden of Sikkim was yellow-carded.

MMC clashes with RCT in the first semi-final on Friday.

Taekwondo team leaves for China

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KATHMANDU, Jan 11- A two-member taekwondo team left for China today to participate at the First International Friendship Taekwondo championship which is to be held from January 14-16, according to a press statement issued by the Central Taekwondo Dojang of the Nepal Taekwondo Association.

Kumar Bahadur Karki, the gold medallist of the 1995 invitational championship at Kualalumpur and Kamal Bahadur Chettri, the gold medallist of the 8th SAF games are the Nepalese participants who left for China today.

The Selection Committee of National Sports Council has selected them as per the rules, read the press release.