Niraula defeated Nabin Tandukar in the final round match held Tuesday. Taking advantage of Tandukar´s mistake, Niraula defeated him in the 42nd move.[break]
Along with the title, Niraula bagged a purse of Rs 15,000. This is the second biggest title won by Niraula in his career. He had won the Madan Memorial Open Rating Chess Tournament two years ago.
Uttamraj Thapa of Tanahun secured second position on the basis of progressive points though he was level on eight points with Rajendra Prasad Shrestha. Thapa had defeated Madan Krishna Kayastha of Bhaktapur while Shrestha had beaten Manish Hamal, the first FIDE Master of Nepal. Thapa received a cash prize of Rs 9,000 while Shrestha got Rs 6,000.
Ganeshman Duwal of Bhaktapur and Shyamsundar Kayastha of Kathmandu finished in fourth and fifth positions respectively with 7.5 points apiece. Duwal was ahead on the basis of progressive points.
Rajan Puri and Milan Rokka of Kathmandu, Madan Krishna Kayastha, Nabin Tandukar and Raj Prajapati of Bhaktapur finished sixth to tenth, respectively.
Similarly FM Hamal, Umesh Sainju, Raju Subedi, Jagannath Tamrakar and Bikram Jati secured 10th to 15th spots. Players finishing up to 15th position received cash prizes.
Rajaram Duwal took the top position in the unrated category, while Purnaraj Khadka and Balaram Napit secured second and third positions, respectively.
Rupesh Jaiswal claimed the U-19 title. Likewise, Bivek Lama and Prashant Vasim won titles in the under-1900 and under-1700 ratings categories, respectively. Likewise, Lawa Kumar Shrestha of Kathmandu won the veterans´ title.
The winners were awarded by Nepal Workers and Peasants Party President Narayanman Bijukchhe.
Nepal Chess Association President Rajesh Hari Joshi, who was recently elected board member of FIDE, the apex body of international chess, and Gyanendra Khaiju who became the first international arbiter from Nepal, were also honored on the occasion.
Altogether 117 players from 17 districts across the country participated in the tournament. The tournament was jointly organized by Friends of Nation Club and Srijansheel Jagaran Samaj, Bhaktapur.
Shrestha wins veteran badminton
Superintendent of Police Rajendra Shrestha won the veterans´ title in the Bhaktapur District Badminton Tournament on Tuesday.
Shrestha defeated Rajendra Prasad Prajapati 21-10, 21-18 in the final.
In men´s singles, Krishna Sundar Khaiju advanced into the final beating Surendra Prajapati 21-17, 21-7 in the semifinal.
Likewise, Sunil Hona teamed up with Raju Khumbu to defeat the pair of Indra Bhakta Pancha and Rajan Paudel 21-18, 21-18 in the men´s doubles semifinal.
10 nations to compete in int´l taekwondo
At least 10 countries have confirmed their participation for the 8th International Friendship Taekwondo Championship to be held on December 10 and 11 in Kathmandu. The event is being organized by Maitri Taekwondo Dojang.
United States of America, England, South Korea, Canada, Hong Kong, Philippines, China, India, Pakistan along with two teams of Nepal have confirmed their participation, stated Dinesh Maharjan, the secretary of the main organizing committee, at a press conference in the capital on Tuesday.
About 200 players including 40 Nepalis and 160 foreigners will compete in the event. The Nepali national team and a team from the hosts will represent Nepal in the championship.
"The championship, already recognized by World Taekwondo Federation (WTF), has been recognized by Nepal Taekwondo Association (NTA) from this time," Maharjan shared during the press meet.
The event will be conducted by WTF-recognized referees from USA, Britain, Pakistan and Nepal fully under the rules of WTF.
Meanwhile, a 13-member main organizing committee has been formed under the coordination of Kedar Maharjan.
"The event is also being organized with a view to boosting Nepal Tourism Year 2011,"said President Maharjan. The first and second editions of the championship were held in Kathmandu and Pokhara in 2000 and 2002, respectively.
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