SPORTS BRIEFS: Nepali wins chess match

KATHMANDU, Feb 28: Nepal chess champion Badri Lal Nepali and FIDE Master Manish Hamal registered wins in the first round of the FIDE Rating Chess Tournament on Monday.



Other players to win the first round match are Uttam Raj Thapa, Prachanda Man Malakar, Punya Man Karmacharya, Nabin Tandukar, Sitaram Agrawal, Rajendra Bajracharya, Lab Kumar Shrestha, Bijendra Singh, Herakaji Majarjan, Rabindra Shakya, Rijendra Bhandari, Sagar Man Dangol and Prem Krishna Maharjan. [break]Likewise, Man Kumar Gurung, Arun Baidya, Ganesh Man Duwal, Upendra Karmacharya, Basanta Lama, Niraj Niraula and Rajan Puri also won their respective matches.



Karki back in football

KATHMANDU: After a one-year ban in football, Pravin Karki will be back in the field wearing the jersey of Samsung Jawalakhel Youth Club (JYC). Karki was banned for a year after he manhandled assistant referee Madhusudhan Khanal during the first edition of British Gurkha Cup in 2009. His ban expired on December 25. Manmohan KC, the general secretary if JYC, said the club´s midfield will be stronger after signing Karki.



“We have signed him for a handsome amount,” he said. Karki said his dream of playing in the league is still unquenched. “I want to forget everything and play well in the upcoming league.” Karki, a product of All Nepal Football Association (ANFA) Academy, has only played the league only from Sankata Club after his debut four years ago.



Sindhu cup starting March 11

KATHMANDU: The fourth edition of the San Miguel Sindhu Bhote Koshi Cup Knockout Football Tournament is all set to kick off from March 11, the organizers informed in a press conference on Monday. The tournament will conclude on March 21. Altogether eight teams including four A-division clubs will be participating. Armed Police Force Club, New Road Team and Samsung Jawalakhel Youth Club have confirmed their participation while Tribhuvan Army Club is yet to decide. Sindhupalchowk, Kavre, Dolakha and Madhyapur Youth Association are the other teams participating in the tournament.



The winner of the tournament will receive Rs 50,000 while the runners-up will receive Rs 25,000. Player-of-the-tournament will be awarded with Rs 5,000. Sunkoshi Youth Club are the defending champions. Bir Bahadhur Khadka, the president of Sindhuplanchowk Football Association said they have been increasing the cash prize of the tournament every year.

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