Kathmandu, Oct 14: Four Nepali athletes are all set to contest in the World Karate Championship selection tournament.
A six-member team, including four players and coaches, is departing for Paris next day to participate in the tournament to be held in Paris, France from October 17 to 19.
Selected to vie in the tournament representing Nepal are one male and three female players. Swanim Manandhar will demonstrate his skills in Men’s Single Kata category while Erika Gurung will compete in the Women’s Over 68-kg category.
Similarly, Barsha Budha will represent Nepal in the Women’s Under 50-kg and Sabina Shrestha in the Women’s under 55-kg.
Swanim has 49 other competitors while Erika will face 34 contenders in their respective weight categories.
Likewise, Barsha has 38 rivals and Sabina 46 in the selection tournament.
The winners in each category will secure a spot in the 27th edition of World Karate Championship to be organized in Cairo, Egypt coming November 27 to 30. Altogether 549 athletes take part in the selection process in various 12 categories.
It may be noted that Sanumaya Thing, another Nepali athlete, has already secured her place in the upcoming World Karate Championship. She will be competing in the Women’s single kata.
Meanwhile, National Sports Council’s Member-Secretary Tankalal Ghising, Council’s member Prakash Kumar Kusari and other officials on Tuesday bade farewell to the six-member team.
On the occasion, Member-Secretary Ghising urged the athletes to deliver with a high morale, touting the selection tournament as a ‘golden opportunity’ to make a history for Nepal in the international karate competitions.
