Chelsea Inter-School Road Race: Budhanilkantha School triumphs

The 4th Chelsea Inter-School Road Race witnessed an impressive display of young talent, with students from various schools across the Kathmandu Valley competing in a 4.7 km race. The event brought together both boys’ and girls’ teams in a spirited competition, with Budhanilkantha School emerging as the overall champion.

High-profile guests, including Mohd Firdaus Azman, Charge’d Affairs from the Embassy of Malaysia, graced the event. In his address, Azman encouraged the participants to pursue excellence, emphasizing the importance of hard work and dedication. Also present were Sannani Lama, Deputy Mayor of Gokarneswor Municipality, Nandalal Shrestha, Ward Chairperson of Gokarneswor-8, Baikuntha Manandhar, Olympian and South Asian marathon record holder, and Kiran Chemjong, captain of Nepal’s national football team. Additionally, officials such as Raju Pandey, Deputy Superintendent of Police from Boudha Police Station, Rajesh Karki, Senior Sub-Inspector from Gokarneswor Police Station, and Jitendra Shrestha, Chief of Jorpati Traffic Police, were in attendance. Representatives from the Nepal Athlete Association and a medical team from Nepal Medical College and Hospital ensured the event ran smoothly and safely.

The competition highlighted the athletic prowess of the students, with the top ten finishers in both the boys’ and girls’ categories showcasing exceptional talent. In the boys’ category, the top performers included Hasta Sunwar from Bright Horizon School, Anuj Mahat from Kankali Secondary School, and Bibek Lama from Budhanilkantha School. The girls’ category saw Sushma Yadav from Budhanilkantha School, Divyata Bhandari from Brihaspati Vidyasadan, and Sushna Thapa from Bright Horizon School leading the pack.

The event culminated with Budhanilkantha School being named the Champion School, a fitting recognition for their dominance in both boys’ and girls’ categories. The race was a memorable celebration of sportsmanship and young athletic talent, further elevated by the presence of distinguished guests and the fierce competitive spirit displayed by all participants.

ACC Women’s T20 Asia Cup: Nepal beat UAE by six wickets

Nepal defeated the United Arab Emirates (UAE) by six wickets in their first match of the ACC Women’s T20 Asia Cup on Friday.

The match was held at the Dambulla International Stadium in Sri Lanka.

Chasing the target of 116 runs, Nepal made it in 16.1 overs at the loss of four wickets.

Samjhana Khadka was the top scorer for Nepal with 72 runs. She hit 11 fours in her 45-ball innings.

Likewise, Rubina Chhetri scored 10 runs while other batters failed to score in double digits.

For the UAE, Kavisha Egodage took three wickets while Lavanya Kenny claimed one wicket.

Invited to bat first after losing the toss, the UAE scored 115 runs at the loss of eight wickets in 20 overs.

Indu Barma took the highest three wickets for Nepal. Kritika Marasini, Sabnam Rai and Kabita Joshi claimed one wicket each.

Nepal will play their second match against Pakistan on July 21.

French Embassy fetes Nepali Olympians

The French Embassy in Nepal hosted a reception here on Tuesday at the French Residence in honor of the Nepali Olympians and the Nepal Olympic Committee, celebrating their journey and looking forward to their participation in the upcoming Paris 2024 Olympic Games which will start from July 26.

On the occasion, the French Chargé d’Affaires, Jean-Baptiste Lesecq, expressed pride in welcoming the athletes and their support teams. In his address, he congratulated the Olympians on their achievements, emphasizing the significance of their selection to represent Nepal on the world stage. He noted that this proud moment extends beyond the athletes to their friends, families, and the entire nation. “Success in sports is never due to one person but is the product of dedication from your coaches and the supporting team who are present here this evening,” he said. 

Meanwhile, the President of Nepal Olympic Committee Jeevan Ram Shrestha said, “We are confident that it (Paris Olympic Games) will be a magnificent event, demonstrating excellence and unity.”

During their stay in Paris, the athletes will reside in the Olympic Village, providing them the opportunity to meet fellow sportspersons who share their passion and values, the Embassy of France in Kathmandu said in a press release today. 

The Chargé d’Affaires encouraged the athletes to immerse themselves in the spirit of Paris and the Games, highlighting unique features such as the opening ceremony on the Seine River and iconic Parisian landmarks serving as venues.

The event was attended by Olympians Manita Pradhan/Judo, Prince Dahal/Badminton, Shantoshi Shrestha/Athletics, Sushmita Nepal/Shooting, senior officials of Nepal Olympic Committee and the coaches. Alexander G Shah/Swimming, Duana Lama/Swimming, and Santoo Shrestha/Table tennis were out of station.

As the Nepali Olympians prepare to represent their country on the world stage, the French Embassy extended its best wishes for a journey filled with unforgettable moments and personal and collective achievements.

The Paris 2024 Olympics promises to be an exceptional event, introducing new sports such as breakdancing, sport climbing, skateboarding, and surfing. These additions aim to be inclusive and appeal to younger audiences. The Paris 2024 Organizing Committee has also made strong environmental and social commitments, including ensuring gender parity among the athletes.

This event also holds a historical significance as the last time Paris hosted the Summer Olympic Games was in 1924.

South Africa thrash Afghanistan to reach first men's World Cup final

South Africa ended their run of semi-final heartache by thrashing Afghanistan to reach their first men's T20 World Cup final.

The Proteas, who had failed to progress from all seven of their previous World Cup semi-finals across formats, dismissed Afghanistan for 56 in 11.5 overs on a difficult pitch on their way to a nine-wicket win in Trinidad, BBC reported.

Marco Jansen removed Rahmanullah Gurbaz, the tournament's leading run-scorer in Afghanistan's dramatic run to their first semi-final, and the score was soon 28-6.

Spinner Tabraiz Shamsi mopped up the tail with 3-6 and Jansen finished with 3-16 but questions will be asked about the state of the surface for such a showpiece event.

It offered excessive seam movement and bounce to the pace bowlers, at times dangerously so, with South Africa also struggling in their chase.

Quinton de Kock was bowled having been hit on the body but, with little pressure to score quickly, the Proteas were able to complete their chase in 8.5 overs, according to BBC.

They now progress to Saturday's final in Barbados unbeaten as they look to win a World Cup for the first time.

They will play England or India, who meet in the second semi-final on Thursday in Guyana at 15:30 BST.