Nepal Boxing Association on Tuesday finalised a 10-member squad for the 12th South Asian Games slated for February 6-16 in India.

Seven players in men’s and three in women’s events were picked up after the final day of the selection tournament held at the Dasharath Stadium premises on Tuesday. Winners of seven weight divisions in men’s and three in women’s section secured their spots for the regional games.

Selected for men’s events were Tej Bahadur Deuba of Tribhuvan Army Club (TAC), Prem Chaudhary of TAC, Dinesh Shrestha of Nepal Police Club, Dan Bahadur Darlami, Deepak Shrestha of TAC, Bikash Lama of APF Club and Dipesh Lama of TAC.

APF club duo Saraswoti Rana Magar and Sangita Sunar along with Army boxer Minu Gurung were selected for the women’s event after their wins in final on Tuesday. In all 51 men and 17 women boxers were in fray for the SAG berths.

Tej Bahadur beat Ganesh Bohara of Bajura in the 59kg final, Prem dispatched Shakti Lama of Naxal in 52kg title match, Dinesh saw off Arjun Sigu of TAC in 56kg final, Dan Bahadur defeated Bhupendra Thapa of NPC in 60kg title clash, Deepak got the better of Nivas Tandukar of Naxal in the 64kg final, Bikash overcame Umesh Rijal of Lalitpur in 69kg final, and Dipesh sidelined Mahendra KC of TAC in the 75kg final.

Rana Magar defeated Niru Gurung of TAC in the women’s 56-60kg weight division final, Sunar saw off teammate Pramila Pandey in the 69-75kg title bout and Gurung got the better of Diwana Sherma of NPC in the 48-51kg final.

Shrestha sets record

The Army weightlifter Dinesh Shrestha booked a ticket to the 12th South Asian Games on Tuesday with a record lift in Snatch during the men’s 94kg weight division. Shrestha lifted 116kg to break his own previous best mark of 115kg set during the Asian Championship held in Thailand in September.

Along with Shrestha, seven other lifters also secured their places for the regional games. Others lifters to be selected for men’s events include Prakash KC of Banke in 56kg, Bikram Thapa of NPC in 62kg, Anil Malla of NPC in 69kg, and Army lifters Surendra Shrestha in 77kg, Bhairav Singh Thapa in 85kg, Gagan Singh Oli in below 105kg and Pukar Gurung in above 105kg weight divisions. Nepal Weightlifting Association said it will announce the women’s squad on Wednesday.

Handball squad named

Nepal Handball Association on Tuesday announced a 14-member squad for SAG. The Nepali team includes Ankita Chaudhary, Bandana Rai, Bishnu Bogati, Dev Kumari Baskota, Jina Rai, Kabita Rai, Nisha Rai, Pema Sherpa, Prava Thapa, Ranjana Rai, Ram Kumari Chaudhary, Sadhana Bam, Shantikala Rai and Uma Rai.