National Games receive final go ahead

BY A STAFF REPORTER

Kathmandu, Apr. 23: After tottering on the verge of being scrapped due to unavailabilty of much needed budget, the fifth National Games, ultimately received the final go ahead from the government with the revised budget and date.

Earlier scheduled to be held from May 6 to 13, 2001, the National Games, according to new revised schedule will be held from 27th May to 2nd June, 2001 in Kathmandu.

The fifth National Games were to be held with the cost of about 40.6 million rupees but the Finance Ministry, in a letter to the National Sports Council, rejected to release about 20 million rupees sending the biennial national sports events into a tizzy.

But, with the new revised budget of about 30.94 million rupees as the new estimated cost, the National Games are now all set to take place in Kathmandu and there will be 14 disciplines in the games being organised as the preparation for the 9th SAF Games to be held in Pakistan later this year.

"Due to the delay in the releasing of the budget the games could not be held as announced earlier but with the new revised budget, the National Games and Regional Games will be held with the changes in their schedule," Minister of State for Education and Sports Dilendra Prasad Badu at a press conference oraganised at National Stadium Complex this afternoon.

According to Minister of State Badu the regional games will take place in all five development regions from May 10 to 18, 2001. There will be closed camps for the players selected for the national games from May 19 to 25 and finally the National Games will start in Kathmandu from May 27 to June 2.

There will be about 7196 players to take part in the National Games who will vie for a total of 950 medals (290 gold, 290 silver and 370 bronze medals). Apart from 1421 players of five the development regional teams the participants from Royal Nepalese Army and Nepal Police.

The Minister of State said that all the district sports development committees and affiliated sports associations are ready and all prepared for the successful organisation of the fifth National Games in the said dates and venues. At the press conference, acting Member Secretary of NSC, NOC President Rukma Shumsher Rana and other sports official were also present.

Pasang Lhamu Karate begins

BY A STAFF REPORTER

Kathmandu, Apr. 23: The second Pasang Lhamu Memorial Second Women Karate Championship got underway after the meet was inaugurated by the Minister of State for Education and Sports Dilendra Prasad Badu amidst a function today.

In today’s game, Subhadra Shrestha, RajyaLaxmi Garbuja, Sharmila Shrestha Roma gurung , Amrita Thapa, Pratime Darshan, Asmita Khadka, Sangeeta Rai, Prakriti Shrestha, Devi Upreti, Shanti Adhikari, Sunita Ale Sanju Lama, Sumnima Rai, Rabina Suwal ,Yamuna Shahi, Padma Khayargauli. Malu Rana, Sunita Maharjan entered final and semifinals in the different categories of the karate events.

In the inuaguration, Dawa Gurung delivered the welcome speech while the father of late Pasang Lhamu, Furba Kirat Sherpa Mountaineering Academy General Secretary Navraj Adhikari and senior karate coach Keshav Singh Thakuri were also present in the tournament’s opening where Mohan Dhoubdel took the oath on behalf of players while Sabitir Prajapati took oath on behalf of players.

AFC invites Geeta to S’pore for meeting but she will not attend

BY A STAFF REPORTER

Kathmandu, Apr. 23: The Asian Football Confederation has consented to discuss the matters regarding to elections of the Nepalese football governing body of which activities have been mired of late because of the creation of two parallel football bodies.

The All Nepal Football President Geeta Rana said that she had received a letter from AFC asking her to attend a meeting in Singapore to discuss about the elections of ANFA. She also told that Nepal Olympic Committee President Rukma Shumsher Rana had also been invited to join the meeting.

However, Rana said that despite AFC invitation, she would not attend the meeting. The reason: the AFC does not seem to recognise her as the acting president of the Nepalese football governing body. The AFC invitation letter did not mentioned her as the chief of ANFA. Rather, the letter addressed her as Ms Geeta Rana, she said."Unless AFC recognise me as the acting chief of ANFA, I will not attend any meet of AFC despite their invitation."

Rana’s confidence seemed to have been doubled after the withdrawal of case from the Supreme Court by the estranged ANFA president Ganesh Thapa. "It has proved that Thapa’s is an illegal association and AFC knows it also because Thapa did not have the support of the majority of his erstwhile ANFA members who have now sided with Rana.," She said.

AFC’s present invitation is, it seems, because they have come to the realisation the fact that AFC’s rigid stance is inconsistent with its law, Rana said.

She said that AFC showed its willingness to discuss the matter because it feared its rigid stance might prove the counterproductive to them.

Khukuri Karate to feature int’l players

BY A STAFF REPORTER

Kathmandu, April 23: The first Khukuri Karate Tournament which is going to take place from 24th of Jestha, 2058 will feature international players.

The tournament will be held at two levels. The regional level tournament will be held at Nepalgunj, Itahari, Pokhara, Bharatpur and Banepa during the 4th to the 13th of Jestha 2058, while the international (SAARC level) tournament will be conducted form the 24th to the 27th of Jestha 2058, in Kathmandu.

The tournament with events featuring both male and female contests in different weight categories, will have participation from countries like India, Japan, Bangladesh, Pakistan and Australia. At the same time it is expected that Nepal will repeat it’s feat of 14 gold medals won during the recently held eighth SAAF Games in Kathmandu.

Surya Tobacoo Company, along with the Nepal karate Federation Federations determined to provide the players of Nepal an international exposure through this Karate Tournament. Prior to this, Surya Tobacco company has also organised various events like the 6th Asian Shikhar Karate tournament, Khukari International Karate, Kick boxing and Crown Prince Cup National Karate tournaments, the organisers said at the press conference.

"It has always been STC’s endeavour to provide the best sporting experenice to the people of Nepal by way of International Class tournaments like Surya Nepal Masters Golf Tournament or the Khukuri Gold Cup and the more recent Surya Nepal Snooker Challenge. We now wish to expand our portfolio of international class tournaments by introducing our first Khukuri Karate Tournament.’’

Sanu, Krishna march on

BY ASTAFF REPORTER

Kathmandu, Apr. 23: The different phases of King’s Cup Tennis Tournament have been completed today. The tournament is being sponsored by International Finance and Leasing Private Limited and co-sposnored by National Life and General Insurance Company.

In today’s men’s pre-quarter final matches held today, Sanu Gurung beat Raju Shrestha 6-7,6-2 and 6-0 and Krishna Gahle beat Shreyans Karki 6-1,6-1.

Likewise, Manoj Rana beat Praveen Dayananda 6-4,4-6,6-4, Shree Ram Magar defeated Nasheer Saheed 6-2,6-3 while Suba Ratan Shahi outgunned Rohit Sunuwar 6-1, 6-1 and Kaptain Karsolia edged past Chandra Shahi 7-5,7-6 and 6-1 to enter the men’s quarterfinals.

Meanwhile in the men’s double, Chandra Shahi and S Magar duo beat Karki and Surya Bhusan 6-3, 6-0 while B. Schultz and R. Shrestha got walkover against K. Shukla and Karsolia to enter the semifinals.