The Bihar team for national kayaking and canoeing championships will take part in the 26th National Canoe Sprint Championships 2015-2016 in Bhopal from January 12 to 15, 2016.

The championship for senior men and women would be organised by MP Amateur Kayaking Canoeing Association at the Upper Lake in Bhopal in collaboration with the directorate of sports, government of Madhya Pradesh.

On the other hand, the national championship for junior men and women and sub-junior boys & girls would be organised by Kerala kayaking and Canoeing Association at Kollam in Kerala from January 21 to 23, 2016.

The team was selected at Bhairava Talab, a historical pond, on the campus of Tilka Manjhi Bhagalpur University here on December 13.

Manoj Kumar, the secretary of the Bihar Kayaking and Canoeing Association, a body affiliated to Indian Kayaking and Canoeing Association, said: "The sub-junior team for boys comprises Mohammad Ahayatasham, Ravi Prakesh and Aditya Priya, while Payal Kumari and Switi Kumari make up the girls' team."

Rupesh Kumar and Rakesh Kumar will represent the junior team (boys), while Namrata Kumari, Chanda Kumari and Manisha Kumar would represent the junior team for girls. Sahid Hussain, the team manager, would accompany the team to Bhopal along with Sabina Tabbasum, the team coach. Amit Kumar and Sudhir Kumar, two differently abled participants, would represent the team for handicapped (boys) in the senior section.

Kundan Kumar, Ajit Kumar, Rupesh Kumar, Shabaz, Vipin Kumar, Rahul Kumar, Nehal Ali, Goubar Kumar, Shivshanker Kumar, Prasant Kumar, Pardesi Kumar, Rabindra Kumar and Manish Kumar have been selected for the boys' senior group.

Pallavi Kumari, Purnima Kumari, Ansu Kumari and Kusum Kumari Kebat have been placed for the senior girls' team. Kumar said Ramchandra Yadav would the team coach, while Rani Kumari would be the team manager.

The secretary said the teams have started regular practice in that pond located in front of stadium of the varsity here. "We hope our boys and girls score better as they all have toiled hard," he said.