Maharjan dominated the match from the first round and won it in style against Max Basnet from Tikathali in the final. Maharjan was also bronze medalist of the Kings Cup held in Bangkok last year. [break]
In another exciting match Purna Bahadur Lama of APF defeated his nephew Suman Lama of Nepal Police in the men´s 60-kg category.
The pre quarterfinalist of the Asian Games in men´s 52-kg category, Puran Rai lost his match against Sudesh Manandhar of Nepal Police. Manandhar who was not able to perform well in the first round improved in later rounds and took the match home.
During a match between Govinda Shrestha and Uddhav Khatri in the men´s 75-kg category, Khatri was victorious as referee stopped the contest in 1.27 seconds. Likewise, referee stopped the contest between Ukesh Nagarkoti and Sabin Darai in the men´s 56-kg category in the middle of second round with Nagarkoti pronounced winner of the match.
Likewise, Laxman Tamang beat Amrit KC in the final of men´s 48-kg category. Ratna Bahadur Tamang and Sudan Gurung registered final win in the men´s 64-kg and 69-kg categories, respectively.
Mala Rai, who had participated in the Asian Championship and Asian Indoor Games in Vietnam last year, registered an impressive win over Sabitri Tamang in the women´s 48-kg category.
Purna Bahadur Lama (in blue) and his nephew Suman Lama.
Sanju Lama utilized her experiences of Asian Championship and Asian Games to register impressive win over Nisha Tamang in the final of women´s 54-kg category. In the women´s 51-kg category, Maya Chaudhary defeated Shova Thing.
Meanwhile, World Championship participants Anuradha Lama lost the match against Saraswoti Rana Magar in the women´s 60-kg final.
The tournament is part of the process to rank boxers and send them to upcoming international tournaments as per their ranks.
A family of boxers
(ANIL GHIMIRE)
Nepal APF Club´s pugilist Purna Bhadur Lama always encouraged family members to go for some training in boxing and showed them the way to the boxing ring. His encouragement gave his nephew Suman Lama a moral-boost and Suman joined Nepal Police Club as a boxer.
Purna faced his own student and nephew Suman during the National Selection Tournament at the Dasharath Stadium but proved his supremacy by defeating Suman in men´s 60-kg category.
The 10th South Asian Games bronze medalist Purna was the first boxing mentor of Suman. “I had showed him the way to the ring and he performed well against me today," said Purna. "After facing him today (on Friday), I believe he will catch up my foot steps after my retirement," he added. This was the first official encounter between them.
However, Suman was sad to lose the match but was excited as he gave a tough time to his uncle. “I will train more to win everyone in my weight category in next tournament.”
Purna´s family links do not end with this uncle-nephew clash. His better-half Anuradha Lama is also a boxer at Nepal Police Club. He is also training his brother-in-law about the basics of boxing.
Anuradha had earlier played in the Asian Championship and World Championship. She is the first Nepali woman boxer to participate in the World Championship. She had also won bronze medal in the Fourth Asian Women´s Boxing Championship.
However, history could not save her from losing to Saraswoti Rana Magar during the selection tournament in women´s 60-kg category.
The Lama family from Hetauda expresses gratitude to the departmental teams for their success, so far. “If we had not joined the departmental teams, we would not have reached this far,” said Purna.
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