Giri sets new half-marathon record

KATHMANDU, May 6 (PR) – Royal Nepal Army marathoner Khimu Giri broke the national record clocking 1:07:12sec at the 11th International Amateur Athletics Federation World Half Marathon Championship held in Brussels on Sunday, the Nepal Amateur Athletic Association (NAAA) said in a press release on Monday. The previous record was held by Rajendra Bhandari at 1:11:15sec set in 2000. Other marathoner Raybat Bahadur Dahal finished the run in 1:10:57sec. Kenyan marathoner Kosgei Paul recorded 1:00:39sec to finish the race at the first place while Gharib Jaouad of Morocco held the second spot followed by Tanzanian Yuda John at third. Kenya were crowned the team champions.

U-15 selection cricket tourney

BIRGUNJ, May 6 (PR) – A man-of-the-match winning performance by Irfan Siddiqui with four wickets and 53 runs guided Region No. 5 to a 14-run win over the hosts Region No. 2 in the ongoing Under-15 National Cricket Selection tournament on Monday. Region No 5 scored 188-6 in the allotted 40 overs after winning the toss and electing to bat first. Apart from Siddiqui, allrounder Premraj Upreti chipped in with 57 runs smashing eight fours and a sixer in his brilliant 58-ball innings. Upreti also claimed two wickets. Also to bag wickets for the visitors were Narayan Patel and Suraj Timilsina, who shared two wickets each. The hosts could only manage 174 runs in 38 overs.