Nepal Karate Association picked up a 32-member squad on Thursday for the 13th South Asian Games to be held in Kathmandu on December 1 to 10.

National kata champion Monday Kaji Shrestha was selected for both the men's singles and team kata. In team kata, Shrestha will be paired with Prabin Manandhar and Malbhus Tamang. Chanchala Dunwar was selected in women's singles kata while Nirmala Tamang, Sangita Magar and Saru Karki were selected for women's kata.

The men's kumite will see Sonam Lama (50kg), Laxman Tamang (55kg), Rajiv Pudasaini (60kg), Nabin Rasaili (67kg), Gangaram Kushwar (75kg), Diwas Shrestha (below 84kg) and Biplav Lal Shrestha (above 84kg) represent Nepal in the sub-continental sports meet. The runners-up of the weight categories: Raj Kumar Rasaili (60kg), Arjun Baghchand (67kg), Mukundra Maharjan (75kg), Sushil Paudel (below 84kg), and Lekhraj Mainali (above 84kg) will contest in men's team kumite. Additional two members of team kumite will be picked up among the best players who have secured berths for individual kumite.

Kusum Khadka (45kg), Anu Adhikari (50kg), Manisha Chaudhary (55kg), Anu Gurung (61kg), Sunita Maharjan (below 68kg) and Anupama Magar (above 68kg) are selected in women's kumite. Sushmita Waiba (55kg), Aster Rai (61kg), Sunny Tamang (68kg) and Rita Karki (68kg), who finished runners up in their respective category, will play in the women's team kumite event which will have four members.

Karate will offer 19 gold medals: nine in women's and 10 in men's category. While male individual kumite will have seven gold medals, one gold each will be on offer for individual kata, team kata and team kumite. The women’s event will have six weight divisions in kumite apart from individual kata, team kata and team kumite.