KATHMANDU, OCTOBER 1

The Nepal Golf Association handed over the house to the 13th South Asian Games double gold medallist Subash Tamang and his family here today.

NGA President Tashi Ghale, General Secretary CB Bhandari, Treasurer Kishan Agrawal and Youth Development Director Deepak Acharya handed over the four-room house to Tamang amidst a programme at Bhardew of Konjyosom Rural Municipality Ward No 5. The NGA prepared the house in three months.

The NGA had promised to construct a house for Tamang after the golfer bagged historic gold medals in the regional sporting extravaganza held in Kathmandu from December 1-10, 2019. The NGA, which raised Rs 1.5 million from a charity event at the Gokarna Golf Club, completed the house at the cost of Rs 2.6m.

'Subash Tamang gave two gold medals for the country but his family was living in a hut. When we came to know about his wish to build a house for his parents and provide education to his brother, the NGA took the initiative. We are grateful to the members of golfing fraternity for their generous support for the cause,' said NGA President Ghale, who also thanked Tamang's parents for providing Nepali golf with a star player.

'The NGA has also arranged studies for his brother, Arjun, at Sirius English Boarding School with 50 per cent scholarships,' he added.

Tamang was happy to get a house for his parents. 'I wanted a house for my parents as they were living in a hut. I am grateful to the NGA and the golfers who contributed in preparing his house,' said Tamang.

'It is a huge relief for me and I can fully focus on my game now,' said Tamang, who came here last week on a break from India's renowned Tarun Sardesai Golf Academy. Tamang won the Nepal Tourism Amateur Championship with 54- hole total score of 10-under 206 at the Gokarna Golf Club on Thursday.

Tamang, who will represent Tribhuvan Army Club in the ninth National Games in Gandaki Province from October 14-20 before going to Thailand for the Asian Amateur Championships, has been preparing for next year's Asian Games in China. He is also one of the 10 athletes selected for Olympic scholarships.

Tamang's father, Uttam Tamang thanked the NGA for building the house. 'We were totally unaware of Subash Tamang's selection in the SA Games and we came to know about his achievement only after our neighbours informed us. When he came to meet us with two gold medals, the whole Konjyosom Rural Municipality was proud of him,' he said.

'Our son showed us the dream of living in a house and today it turned into reality. We are so proud of him and want to see him excel more in future,' Tamang added.

Konjyosom Rural Municipality Ward No 5 Chairman Bijay Kumar Syangtan praised the efforts of NGA in building the house for Tamang family.

'No one really knew about him until he won gold medals in the SA Games and we were surprised to know about his achievements through media,' Syangtan. 'But it's totally a different story today. Everyone in Konjyosom is proud of Tamang and we wish him more success in the days to come,' he added.

A version of this article appears in the print on October 2, 2022 of The Himalayan Times.