KATHMANDU, July 31

Nepal Athletics Association is sending eight players to Thailand on Monday to prepare for the upcoming South Asian Games.

The national team players of different events will be training for 40 days in Thailand. This is one of the longest tour of players in the history of athletics, informed NAA president Rajib Bikram Shah at a farewell programme. The players will also participate in the 61st Thai Open Athletics Championship slated for September 6-10. Shah said the training was possible with the help of Thailand Athletics. “Asian Athletics Federation has provided us with $10,000 and Thailand Athletics Association is bearing the cost of $6,000 for the training of Nepali players,” said Shah, also a member of CA.

Chief coach Sushil Narshing Rana said the players were selected from the time trial they had conducted earlier. “There are some players who broke national record in time trial and hope the training in Thailand will be more fruitful,” said Rana.

Surya Khatri (High Jump), Dilli Khatri (Long Jump and Triple Jump), Aashish Chaudhary (100m and 200m), Mukti Khadka (800m), Sima Kumari Tharu (Javelin Throw), Amrita Mahato (Discuss Throw), Saraswoti Bhattarai (800m and 1500m) and Saraswoti Chaudhary (100m and 200m) will be participating in the training. Bikram Jung Thapa and Rakesh Bajracharya will accompany the players to Thailand.