QUEENSLAND, May 19 -- Nepal were condemned to 13th place in the World Rafting Championships slalom category after they were penalised 55 seconds at the Tully River in Queensland on Saturday.

Considered comparatively a weaker side in slalom among four categories - sprint, head-to-head, slalom and down river - Nepal were penalised 50 seconds after skipper Suraj Gurung failed to cross the eighth gate. Nepal were penalised further five points after their boat touched the pole in the 11th gate.

A team could perform twice in slalom and the best time achieved among two will be taken for determining the results. Nepali team of Suraj, Shakti Gurung, Padam Gurung, Dipesh Gurung, Sabin Gurung, Rabil Miya and substitute Sunil Gurung took 118.20 sec...