Football

Nepal Police bowed out of the men’s football competition under the ninth National Games despite a 4-1 win over Lumbini Province at the Pokhara Stadium on Monday evening.

Nepal Police will be missing out on the competition’s semi-finals, having suffered a setback at the hands of Tribhuvan Army Club on Sunday.

For NPC Kuldeep Karki scored a brace, Ashish Shrestha and Budhha Tamang chipped in a goal each.

In the other match, APF secured their place in the semi-finals after a 3-1 comeback win over pre-tournament favourites Bagmati Province.

Abhishek Rijal gave Bagmati a 1-0 lead in added time of the first half.

But Pradip Lama equalised for APF, and Nabin Lama scored a brace to secure their passage to the last four of the competition.

On Sunday, the match between Gandaki Province and NRNA was cancelled, with Gandaki being declared the winner. The NRNA team were kicked out from the competition after the Games’ technical committee found that they fielded several ineligible players, as Province 1 stated in their protest letter. 

NRNA’s disqualification sent Gandaki to the top of Group A and hence a passage to the semi-finals.

Sudurpaschim secured their place in the semi-finals after beating their only competitor Karnali 5-3 on Friday.

In the semi-finals, Group B winners APF play Group D winners Sudurpaschim, while Group A winners Gandaki meet Group C winners Tribhuvan Army Club.