KATHMANDU, Aug. 24 -- Phurba Gyaljen Sherpa has been elected President of Nepal Mountaineering Association (NMA). The NMA is an umbrella organization of mountain tourism entrepreneurs.

According to the vote counting conducted this morning, Sherpa defeated his rival, Kul Bahadur Gurung, to be elected the new NMA President. Sherpa received 342 votes while Gurung received 288 votes, according to the election committee.

Similarly, Ishwori Poudel has been elected senior vice-president, Mingma Gyalbo Sherpa as the first vice-president, Bodhraj Bhandari as the second vice-president, and Rajendra Lama as the General Secretary. Similarly, Chandan Thapa has been elected as the Secretary, Ngima Nurbu Sherpa, and Sumi Lama have received equal vote...