Gyanodaya football kicks off with win for host

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LALITPUR, June 29 - The host Gyanodaya defeated St. Xavier’s 4-1 in the opening match of the second Gyanodaya inter-school football tournament which kicked off the premises of Gyanodaya School Bungmati here Friday.

Spurred on by the home support, Gyanodaya boys put in pressure over their rivals right from the whistle. Xavier’s, let down by ill-directed shots and lack of coordination in the middle never looked convincing in the match.

In the 13th minute, Gyanodaya went ahead when Ashis Gurung, after collecting a pass in the penalty area, buried his shot into the roof of the Xavier’s net.

The match developed into exciting battle towards the close of the first half as Xavier’s, a goal down, began to push hard for the equaliser. But that only put them on to further backfoot.

Gyanodaya striker Gyanendra Ale, one of the players from ANFA youth project, doubled the lead to 2-0 five minutes from the change of ends. His thunderous right-footed shot was simply too good to Xavier’s keeper, whose desperate dive went in vain.

Xavier’s lone answer came in 10 minutes into the second session when the captain, Alex Lama, beat the Gyanodaya keeper to narrow the margin at 2-1. The goal pumped up the Xavier’s boys as they started to play more attacking game.

However, they left their door wide open at the back, inviting for more trouble. And it was not before too long that they paid penalty for the mistake. Taking advantage of the situation, Ale lost his markers and fired the ball home taking his shot from the top right corner making it 3-1 in the 60th minute.

Barely a minute later, defender Sandeep Rai, following the foot steps of his skipper put the match beyond Xavier’s reach. His 25-yard shot landed in the back of Xavier’s net, giving the keeper no chance at all to register a 4-1 victory for the host.

Earlier, Ganesh Thapa - the president of FIFA affiliated All Nepal Football Association (ANFA) inaugurated the tournament, that was highlighted by a cultural program.

Subba finishes 3rd in teachers’ singles

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KATHMANDU, June 29 - The preliminary matches in the senior boys’ singles got underway as the first Gillette inter-school badminton entered its fifth day Friday.

Dipesh Khadka of LRI School ousted Sanip Shrestha by 2-1 in a closely fought match. Khadka took the opening set quite comfortably at 15-6, but Shrestha staged a brilliant comeback from behind to win the second game at 13-15. However, Khadka did not let down his home supporters, rounded up the third game at 15-5 to march into the next stage.

The third place play-off in the teachers singles ended in favour Sovit Subba of Kumudini School. Subba, who was unfortunate to loss his closely fought semifinal match to Umesh Khadka miss out the final, put off the challenge of GB Budathoki of Milan School in straight games with the scores of 15-11, 15-8.

It was similarly easy outing for Manju Sunar and Leena Rana Magar of Milan School in the girls doubles. They finished third as they unsettled their rivals Barsa Wagle and Ajita Thapa by 11-3, 11-1.

Pasang Lhamu Sherpa of Sunrise School raced into the final of senior girl’s single thrashing Leena Rana Magar of Milan School 11-1, 11-2. Pasang will take on her colleague Anita Gurung in the final on July 7. Earlier, Gurung beat her opposition Manju Sunar also in straight games at 11-8, 11-3 in the other semi-final.

Likewise, Raju Tamang of Milan School and Sandip Shrestha of Sunrise School will encounter head to head in the final of junior boy’s single.

Palikhe taken ill

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KATHMANDU, June 29 - Binod Shankar Palikhe, the member-secretary of the National Sports Council (NSC) was admitted to Norvic Health Care after he fell unconscious Friday at his office.

Palikhe, who was attending a farewell programme for the
coaches at the council premises, complained a sudden chest pain and collapsed on the floor inside his office room. However, he is in a stable condition, the doctors at the health center said.

The coaches, Dilendra Bir Pandey (chief badminton instructor), Prawan Kumar Talukdar (senior badminton instructor), Jib Raj Joshi (chief table-tennis instructor) and the administrative staff, Ramkaji Thapa, after their long service spanning over two decades took self retirement.

Further change in Nepal’s ICC itinerary

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KATHMANDU, June 29 - The match programme for Group B under Division 2 of the International Cricket Council (ICC) Trophy has undergone further change, said a press release issued on Friday
by the Cricket Association of Nepal (CAN).

Nepal will play its opening match on July 1 against Gibraltar as against the previous programme, according to which Nepal was due to meet Namibia on June 29, reads the press release. Nepal’s match against Namibia is now scheduled for July 2, which will be followed by matches against West Africa and Germany on July 3 and 5 respectively. The Nepali cricket team did some drillings at the net in Toronto, CAN said. It also expressed hope that the additional rest days would help the players to perform better in the competition.