Kusum Tamang is a new teenage hope who shocked her rivals in the Nepali Boxing Championships

The Nepali Elite Boxing Championships for the women and men boxers were held in Birtamod which is located in the Jhapa District of the mountain country. Nepal’s best women boxers as Lalita Maharjan, Saraswati Rama and Anuradha Lama won the titles but the biggest upset was made by teenage talent Kusum Tamang in Birtamod.
Nepal sent boxers to all ASBC events in 2017 including the last ASBC Asian Confederation Women’s Boxing Championships where the country attended with record number of female boxers. Nepal has been preparing to the main goals in 2018 therefore their national event was a selection as well. Their top women boxers are planning to take part in the AIBA Women’s World Boxing Championships later this year.
ASBC Asian Confederation Women’s Boxing Championships quarter-finalist Lalita Maharjan claimed the first title in Birtamod where she defeated Nangja Budha Magar in a spectacular and speed contest. National Games winner and Asian Indoor Games competitor Mala Rai is a veteran female boxer but she had still the skill to beat all of her rivals.
ASBC Asian Confederation Women’s Boxing Championships competitor and National Games winner Bimala Shrestha was in different level than her final opponent, Nita Gosai. Kusum Tamang is a young teenage hope in Nepal’s women’s boxing life who did well in the final of the National Championships in Birtamod. Sanju Lama was a great scalp for the youngster who defeated her older rival by split decision.
ASBC Asian Confederation Women’s Boxing Championships competitor Sangita Sunar was excellent in the final of the lightweight (60kg) and spent only a short time in the ring when she met with Mandira Putuwar. ASBC Asian Confederation Women’s Boxing Championships quarter-finalist Punam Rawal defended her throne after beating Binita Thapa Magar at the light welterweight (64kg).
Anuradha Lama achieved silver in the last edition of the National Games but this time the experienced athlete achieved the title of the women’s welterweight (69kg). Saraswati Rana competed in the main international women events excluding the Olympic Games therefore her experiences determined the success at the middleweight (75kg) in Birtamod.
The first gold medal in the men’s part of the Nepali Boxing Championships was achieved by Tej Bahadur Deuba who defended his throne at the men’s light flyweight (49kg). Prem Chaudhary and Bikram Pariyar are the two best Nepali boxers at the men’s flyweight (52kg) which was one of the best fight in the competition. The final verdict was unanimous decision to Chaudhary who is now involved to the national team once again.
Bimol Roka Magar shocked his veteran rival in the final of the men’s bantamweight (56kg) which finished Puran Rai’s injury in the opening round. Ek Bahadur Ghale stopped national team member Dinesh Shrestha in the semi-final of the lightweight (60kg) and he was still hungry for the success against Prakash Limbu Ijam in the final.
Bhupendra Thapa Magar delivered a small sensation in Birtamod when he defeated Nepal’s experienced international boxer Deepak Shrestha in the final of the light welterweight (64kg) on their re-match and he also received the right to box for his country in the upcoming Indian Open Boxing Tournament.
National Games winner Bishnu Prasad Ghale was not the strong favourite in the final of the welterweight against Bikash Lama but he found his opponent’s weak points in the title contest. Dipesh Lama, Manohar Basnet, experienced Shyam Khadka and Ashis Dawadi won the further gold medals of the National Championships in Nepal. All of them defended their national titles in Nepal and proved top fighting spirit in Birtamod.

List of the winners in the Nepali National Championships
Women’s 48kg: Lalita Maharjan
Women’s 51kg: Mala Rai
Women’s 54kg: Bimala Shrestha
Women’s 57kg: Kusum Tamang
Women’s 60kg: Sangita Sunar
Women’s 64kg: Punam Rawal
Women’s 69kg: Anuradha Lama
Women’s 75kg: Saraswati Rana
Men’s 49kg: Tej Bahadur Deuba
Men’s 52kg: Prem Chaudhary
Men’s 56kg: Bimal Roka Magar
Men’s 60kg: Ek Bahadur Ghale
Men’s 64kg: Bhupendra Thapa Magar
Men’s 69kg: Bishnu Prasad Ghale
Men’s 75kg: Dipesh Lama
Men’s 81kg: Manohar Basnet
Men’s 91kg: Shyam Khadka
Men’s +91kg: Ashis Dawadi