Fourteen winners celebrated their gold medals at the Nepal National Selection Tournament

Nepal Boxing Association hosted its National Selection Tournament for the upcoming ASBC Asian Elite Boxing Championships which event started today with 12 contests. Seven female and seven male boxers won the National Selection Tournament and these winners have got the chance to attend in the upcoming ASBC Asian Elite Boxing Championships.

Nepal hosted the last edition of the South Asian Games in December 2019 which was a big impact in the country’s boxing life. The Covid-19 pandemic stopped their progress but the Nepal Boxing Association worked well in the recent months to get activities for their best national team members.

The women boxers attended in the selection event in seven different weight categories: light flyweight (48kg), flyweight (51kg), bantamweight (54kg), featherweight (57kg), lightweight (60kg), light welterweight (64kg) and welterweight (69kg).

The men boxers competed also in seven weight classes in the national event: light flyweight (49kg), flyweight (52kg), bantamweight (56kg), lightweight (60kg), light welterweight (64kg), welterweight (69kg), and super heavyweight (+91kg).

ASBC Asian Women’s Boxing Championships quarter-finalist Lalita Maharjan (48kg) won the first gold medal of the national event following her success over a young talent, Diwana Sherma who performed well also in the final. South Asian Games silver medallist Mala Rai (51kg) achieved the second female title in the National Selection Tournament following her success over Aarati Bomjon.

South Asian Games winner Minu Gurung (54kg) controlled all of the rounds against Nisha Tamang who competed at the Jeju 2014 AIBA Women’s World Boxing Championships. Chandra Kala Thapa attended at the Thailand Open International Boxing Tournament and also at the India Open and those experiences paid off in the final of the women’s featherweight (57kg) against Maya Chaudhary.

Asian Games competitor Sangita Sunar found her best category the lightweight (60kg) and worked well in the final against Sabina Shrestha. Another experienced boxer Punam Rawal won the women’s light welterweight (64kg) at the National Selection Tournament after beating Sangita Dangal in the final. Veteran Saraswati Rana Magar controlled the next and last women’s final over Binita Thapa Magar at the welterweight (69kg).

Sushil Thapa Magar eliminated his main opponent Tej Bahadur Deuba in the semi-finals of the men’s light flyweight (49kg) and he continued his winning path against Mohan Gurung in the final. Veteran boxers such as Prem Chaudhary (52kg) and Puran Rai (56kg) won the next categories over Chandra Bahadur Thapa and Puran Sunuwar.

Ganesh Thapa reached his career highlight with his gold medal at the lightweight (60kg) against Bimal Roka Magar. National Games silver medallist Bhupendra Thapa Magar defeated Pawan Gurung in the final of the light welterweight (64kg). Nepal’s South Asian Games winner Sanil Shahi moved up to the welterweight (69kg) but he was too strong for all of his rivals. ASBC Asian Boxing Championships competitor Ashish Duwadi spent less than one round in the ring in the final of the super heavyweight (+91kg).

List of the winners in the Nepal National Selection Trials
Women’s 48kg: Lalita Maharjan
Women’s 51kg: Mala Rai
Women’s 54kg: Minu Gurung
Women’s 57kg: Chandra Kala Thapa
Women’s 60kg: Sangita Sunar
Women’s 64kg: Punam Rawal
Women’s 69kg: Saraswati Rana Magar
Men’s 49kg: Sushil Thapa Magar
Men’s 52kg: Prem Chaudhary
Men’s 56kg: Puran Rai
Men’s 60kg: Ganesh Thapa
Men’s 64kg: Bhupendra Thapa Magar
Men’s 69kg: Sanil Shahi
Men’s +91kg: Ashish Duwadi

Don’t forget you can keep up with all of the action, news, results and photos by following ASBC on Facebook and Instagram.
ASBC website: www.asbcnews.org
ASBC Facebook page: https://www.facebook.com/ASBC.Boxing/
ASBC Instagram page: https://www.instagram.com/asbc_official/
ASBC Twitter page: https://www.twitter.com/BoxingAsian?s=08