The experienced boxers shined in the Nepali National Games

Nepali National Games 02

The Nepali National Games was held in Chandragadi which city hosted such a big sport event at the very first time. The Games was the seventh edition and boxing is a popular sport in the national multisport event. Among Nepal’s best international boxers Saraswati Rana Magar, Prem Chaudhary, Puran Rai, Dinesh Shrestha, Deepak Shrestha and Dipesh Lama all claimed the gold medals in the National Games.
Nepal is a developing boxing country in Asia and their National Federation is trying to send out their talents to the main international competitions. Nepal competed in the last edition of the South Asian Games in Shillong, India one year ago and sent boxers also to the AIBA Asian & Oceanian Olympic Qualification Event, in the AIBA Youth World Boxing Championships and also to the AIBA Women’s World Boxing Championships in 2016.
Altogether 45 women boxers attended in the National Games which shows the development of the female part of the sport in the country. Lalita Maharjan is a newcomer in Nepal’s woman boxing life but she was able to win the first title of the event following her success over Diwana Sherma in the final of the light flyweight (48kg).
Mala Rai competed in the 2008 ASBC Asian Confederation Women’s Boxing Championships in India and also in the 2009 Asian Indoor Games. She has got enough experiences from the international level to dominate her flyweight (51kg) where she was too strong for Geeta Thapa Magar in the final.
Nepal’s best woman boxer Saraswati Rana Magar competed in several big international events including the AIBA Women’s World Boxing Championships in Astana and did not give any chance to her opponents in the National Games. She controlled all of the rounds against Sonam Roka in the final of the Olympic lightweight (60kg).
Silu Dongol won the third Olympic category the middleweight (75kg) in the women part of the National Games following her quick success over Samuna Khatun in Chandragadi. Sangita Sunuwar, who competed in the South Asian Games in 2016, was too strong for her rivals at the welterweight (69kg).
Sushil Thapa was the first man boxer who could win the gold medal in the Nepali National Games in Chandragadi. The light flyweight (49kg) boxer, who achieved only bronze medals in the previous national events, controlled his fights and celebrated his first title after the final of the lowest category.
Prem Chaudhary is an experienced boxer who joined to the national team in 2013 and since then he competed at the Incheon 2014 Asian Games and also in the last edition of the ASBC Asian Confederation Boxing Championships in Bangkok. The flyweight (52kg) hope won all of the rounds against Bikram Pariyar and won the second title in the men’s event.
Puran Rai moved up to the bantamweight (56kg) in the recent months and the veteran Nepali boxer controlled his final contest in the National Games against Bimal Roka Magar. South Asian Games bronze medallist Dinesh Shrestha also changed his category and now he is competing at the lightweight (60kg) which he won against Dinesh Chand in the final.
Deepak Shrestha competed also in several international competitions and he delivered great combinations against Bhupendra Thapa in the final of the light welterweight (64kg). Dipesh Lama competed also in the South Asian Games one year ago and won several national events in the recent years. The middleweight (75kg) boxer launched lethal punches against Diwash Lal Bhumi and the referee confirmed his RSC success in the Games.
Nepal’s Manohar Basnet won two editions in the National Championships in the recent Olympic era and he returned to the ring in top form and claimed gold in the Games. Shyam Khadka is also a veteran boxer with a lot of experiences who claimed his first national title at the super heavyweight (+91kg) in 2012. The strong boxer walked over to the gold medal against Kabirnas Sharma in the ninth final of the National Games.

Winners in the Nepali National Games
Nepal Women’s 48kg: Lalita Maharjan
Nepal Women’s 51kg: Mala Rai
Nepal Women’s 54kg: Bimala Shrestha
Nepal Women’s 57kg: Niru Gurung
Nepal Women’s 60kg: Saraswati Rana Magar
Nepal Women’s 64kg: Punam Rawal
Nepal Women’s 69kg: Sangita Sunuwar
Nepal Women’s 75kg: Silu Dongol
Nepal Men’s 49kg: Sushil Thapa
Nepal Men’s 52kg: Prem Chaudhary
Nepal Men’s 56kg: Puran Rai
Nepal Men’s 60kg: Dinesh Shrestha
Nepal Men’s 64kg: Deepak Shrestha
Nepal Men’s 69kg: Bishnu Prashad Ghale
Nepal Men’s 75kg: Dipesh Lama
Nepal Men’s 81kg: Manohar Basnet
Nepal Men’s 91kg: Shyam Khadka
Nepal Men’s +91kg: Ashis Dawadi