Kathmandu, April 22

Nepal Taekwondo Association officials today claimed that only the players selected by them would take part in the 18th Asian Games to be hosted by Indonesia from August 18 to September 2.

NTA General Secretary Deep Raj Gurung was concerned after the National Sports Council allowed the National Taekwondo Union pick up other 12 players and keep them under the closed camp training.

“We have already started the process and our players will compete in the Asiad,” said Gurung, who added that the NTA was, however, not informed about the selection of other players either by National Sports Council or Nepal Olympic Committee.

“We read in media about the selection of other players for the Asiad. We want to make it clear that NTA is the only association that has been recognised by World Taekwondo Federation and Asian Taekwondo Union. And we will follow the international rules and regulations. Nobody or no association except for us can send any player or referee or coach to any international event,” said Gurung.

The then NSC Member Secretary Yubaraj Lama had given the recognition to Nepal Taekwondo Union some six years ago. NTA President Prakash Shumsher Rana said the association would take stern action against individuals who go against the rules. Former chief coach Dhruba Bahadur Gurung and senior coach Min Gurung recently joined NTU and Rana said the NTA would lobby the international bodies to cancel their licences after giving them a chance of clarification.