Nepal U-23 lost 1-0 defeat against the second string side of the Tero Police FC, the top-tier Thai League 1, in a friendly match at the Boonyachinda Stadium in Bangkok on Tuesday.

Nepal are in Thailand since Friday as part of their preparations for the 18th Asian Games, which officially opens on August 18 and wrap up on September 2. But the football tournament kicks off on August 14 and finish on September 1. Nepal are will now play against Thailand U-23 team in the second fixtures on Friday.

On Tuesday, Aditya Chaudhary conceded an own goal in the 39th minute which turned out to be the decider. Nepal played without their captain and custodian Kiran Chemjong and influential midfielder Rohit Chand. Chemjong, who plays professional football for Maldives premier division team TC Sports Club, is yet to join the team because he arrived late in Nepal after the departure of the team Thailand.

Chand is perusing his professional career at the Indonesian top-tier outfits Persija Jakarta and he too missed the team’s flight due to club commitment. Nepal’s Japanese coach Gyotoku Koji and his assistant Bal Gopal Maharjan is undertaking the preparations of the team.

Chemjong, Chand and Bishal Rai are included in the Nepali squad for Asiad under the over-aged players’ quota. Nepal will undergo a 10-day day preparatory camp in Bangkok before leaving for Indonesia. In Asiad, Nepal are scheduled to play Japan on August 14, Vietnam two days later before wrapping up their Group ‘D’ campaign with a clash against Pakistan. Top two teams from each of the six groups and four best third placed teams will make to the Round of 16.