Nepal Wrestling Association (NWA) on Monday picked up eight women wrestlers for the 12th South Asian Games to be held in India from February 6-16.

The wrestlers were selected after winning their respective weight category bouts in the Nationwide Open Wrestling Selection Tournament held at the Satdobato Sports Complex. Sumitra Rai of Ilam qualified from 48kg after defeating Puja Kumari Srivastav of Parsa. Ishwori Thapa won the 53kg weight category overcoming Roshani Rai of Ilam and Sharmila of Dhankuta beat Radhika Rokaya from her own district in 55kg. Laxmi Khatri (58kg) of Kanchanpur, Kabita Pun (60kg) of Rukum, Shanti Chaudhary (63kg) of Saptari, Lila Singh (69kg) and Bhanu Thapaliya (75kg) of Morang were unanimously picked up after finding no opponent in their weight categories.

A total of 11 wrestlers had participated in the selection tournament. It was the first time that a national level women’s wrestling tournament was held in Nepal. Women’s wrestling is included in the Games for the first time. NWA will also select eight wrestlers from the men’s events that conclude on Tuesday. Satyendra Prasad Yadav has already made it through from the men’s 125kg as he was the lone wrestler in his weight category. Yadav is the 11th SA Games silver medallist.

Jaya Mangal Yadav (57kg) and Saroj Yadav (65kg) along with Sumir Sah and Jitendra Prasad Yadav in 97kg of Parsa won their respective matches. Ram Babu Yadav, Pramalal Yadav and Bhagwat Sah of Bara triumphed in 61kg. Bheshraj Pandit of Tribhuvan Army Club and Sandesh Pandit of Bara won in 74kg.

The 10th SA Games silver medal winner Buni Lal Yadav will meet Ramesh Gotame of Banke in 86kg. A total of 36 wrestlers are competing in the men’s event. Men’s wrestling is included for the third time in the Games. Wrestling has so far brought four silver and nine bronze medals for Nepal.