Nepal Shooting Association (NSA) on Thursday finalised a 12-member Nepali squad for the 12th South Asian Games (SAG) scheduled for January 10-20 next year in India.

Top three shooters in both men’s and women’s 10m Air Pistol and Air Rifle were confirmed at the end of the three-day selection tournament held at the Satdobato Shooting Range on Thursday.

Sheh Rajya Laxmi Shah of Rupandehi, Nepal Police shooters Fulmaya Kyapchhaki and Ashmita Rai secured the top three berths in women’s 10m Air Rifle. Shah finished on top with 389 points, while Kyapchhaki edged Rai on better ‘series shots’ after their scores were tied at 385 out of 400.

Pawan Ghimire of Dang, Tikaram Shrestha of Sunsari and Ashim Yadav of Lalitpur booked tickets for the regional games after taking top three places in men’s 10m Air Rifle. Ghimire accumulated 569 points from a possible 600 to finish top of the qualifying chart. Shrestha scored 566 and Yadav 561 points.

Badruddin Ansari of Banke, Kuber KC of Nepali Army and Suman Tuladhar of Kathmandu secured top three available berths in the men’s 10m Air Pistol. Ansari won the selection event with 552 points, while KC finished in second with 548 and Tuladhar in third with 539 points.

Nepal Police shooters grabbed all three spots in the women’s 10m Air Pistol. Sabita Basnet scored 363 out of 400 points to finish on top. Basnet was followed in second by her teammates Sima Tuladhar (360) and Manita Rai (357).