Rai, Sunar and Rawal proved women’s power in the Nepal Bir Ganeshman Singh National Championships

Nepal’s national event the Bir Ganeshman Singh Boxing Championships was held in Basantapur, Kathmandu where six women and eight men winners were crowned. Nepal’s most experienced international boxers such as Mala Rai, Sangita Sunar, Punam Rawal, Sushil Thapa Magar, Dinesh Shrestha and Deepak Shrestha all won their weight classes in Basantapur.
The Bir Ganeshman Singh Foundation was supported to organize the national event which was Nepal’s next activity in 2019. Nepal hosted an international competition the Indramaya Maharjan Memorial in January which was the first edition and a great success for all boxers, coaches and officials. Nepal has been preparing to the South Asian Games with full speed which will be taking place in Kathmandu in December.
Nepal sent boxers to several Asian events last year and the country qualified also for the Budapest 2018 AIBA Youth World Boxing Championships. The developing country attended in the New Delhi 2018 AIBA Women’s World Boxing Championships which was a new milestone for their powerful female hopes.
Their first female winner was Diwana Sherma which was a small sensation in the Bir Ganeshman Singh National Championships. She defeated Sushila Thapa in the final of the event which was a clear dominancy for the title. ASBC Asian Confederation Women’s Boxing Championships quarter-finalist Lalita Maharjan was the main favourite at the women’s light flyweight (48kg) but she suffered a loss in the semi-final to Diwana Sherma.
A top final was held between two international level boxers Mala Rai and Bimala Shrestha at the women’s flyweight (51kg) which contest was also one of the narrowest fights in the Bir Ganeshman Singh National Championships. The final verdict was split decision in the favour of Mala Rai who regained her throne in Nepal.
The bantamweight (54kg) title was taken by Minu Gurung who controlled her final fight against Nisha Tamang in Basantapur. Kusum Tamang was born in 2000 but the teenager was the main favourite for the title at the women’s featherweight (57kg) prior the competition. Tamang was not enough shape in the semi-finals and lost to Sulav Thapa Magar by 3:2 while finally the gold medal went to Chandra Kala Thapa in the event.
Sangita Sunar attended in several different weight classes in the recent years but finally she found the option for her and won the women’s lightweight (60kg) following her success over Sabina Shrestha. Another international boxer Punam Rawal had to face for the gold medal of the women’s light welterweight (64kg) with Nepal’s most experienced athlete Saraswati Rana. Rawal, who is preparing also to the upcoming Bangkok ASBC Asian Confederation Boxing Championships, was too strong for Rana this time.
The men’s light flyweight (49kg) is traditionally strong in Nepal which was dominated by their No.1 Sushil Thapa Magar who defeated Pradip Maharjan in the final. Prem Chaudhary is a veteran flyweight (52kg) but he was still capable to beat Bikram Pariyar in the next final of the Bir Ganeshman Singh National Championships.
Dinesh Shrestha is also an experienced boxer who attended almost all levels of boxing in the recent years therefore his success over Ek Bahadur Ghale was not a surprise. Jakarta 2018 Asian Games competitors as Bhupendra Thapa (64kg), Bikash Lama (69kg) and veteran Deepak Shrestha (75kg) all won their weight classes in Basantapur.

List of the winners in the Nepal Bir Ganeshman Singh National Championships
Women’s 48kg: Diwana Sherma
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
Men’s 49kg: Sushil Thapa Magar
Men’s 52kg: Prem Chaudhary
Men’s 56kg: Bimal Roka
Men’s 60kg: Dinesh Shrestha
Men’s 64kg: Bhupendra Thapa
Men’s 69kg: Bikash Lama
Men’s 75kg: Deepak Shrestha
Men’s 81kg: Rabi Sunar

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