Two Nepali boxers secure medals in ASBC boxing championship

KATHMANDU, August 23: Two Nepali boxers have secured medals in the ongoing ASBC Asian Youth and Junior Boxing Championship underway in the United Arab Emirates (UAE).

Swastika Tiruwa and Chhiring Wangdi Sherpa have won medals by securing their places in the semi-final of the Championship. Tiruwa had defeated her rival under the Bantamweight 52 kg in women's category.

Sherpa had knocked out Mohammad Al-Enezi from Kuwait towards Bantamweight 54 kg to qualify for the semis on Sunday, marking Nepal's historic achievement in the event, said Olympian and coach Dambar Dutta Bhatta who is accompanying the Nepali boxing team in the UAE. 

Six pugilists from Nepal including Tiruwa and Sherpa have participated in the event. Other players are Indra Bahadur Sunar (Bantamweight 60 kg towards men's category), Sulabh Mali (54 kg towards men's category), Suden Giri (71 kg towards men' category) and Narika Rai (57 kg towards women's category). 

The players were selected from the qualification round held at Satdobato of Laliptur last month. 

The Nepali boxing team in the UAE also comprises Olympians and coaches Deepak Maharjan, Sandip Shrestha and Durga Gahatraj while Nepal Boxing Association's member Man Bahadur Bhandari and Jhapa District Boxing Association Tarka Raj Rai serve as the managers for the team. The tournament has been scheduled from August 17-31 while its competition period is August 20-30.