KATHMANDU: The two-time SAF Games karate gold medallist Deepak Shrestha announced his retirement here today. Shrestha's surprise announcement came during the karateka's felicitation programme organised by Nebico Pvt Ltd. Nebico handed over a Tata tripper for the player's achievement and his contribution to the sport. "I am indebted to all those individuals who inspired me to excel and bring in success for my country," said Shrestha. "I quit as a player but will continue forever to help the game develop either as a coach or in any other capacity," added the emotional Shrestha. Shrestha, 33, won the back to back gold medals in the eighth (1999, Nepal) and ninth (2004, Pakistan) South Asian Federation (SAF) Games. In his 17 years of karate career, he has claimed a dozen gold medals at the national level tournament. Shrestha, who is also an assistant national coach of the National Sports Council, currently looks after Nepal Police Club and Little Angels School.

Achievement • Gold — 1st SAARC-level Invitational Karate Championship (1995), India • Gold — 2nd South Asian Invitational Karate Championship (1997), India • Semifinalist -- 3rd AUKO Championship (1997), Macau • Gold — Eight SAF Games (1999), Nepal • Semifinalist — 5th Asian Senior Karate Championship (2001), Malaysia • Gold — Ninth SAF Games (2004), Pakistan • Gold — Ozawa Cup International Karate Championship (2005), USA • Semifinalist — 15th Asian Games (2006), Qatar National • Gold — 2nd Western Regional Karate Championship (1995), Damauli • Gold — 8th All Nepal Karate Championship (1995), Lalitpur • Gold — 1st Valley Karate-do Championship (1995), Lalitpur • Gold — 2nd Valley Karate-do Championship (1997), Bhaktapur • Gold — 4th Central Regional Karate Championship (1999), Birgunj • Gold — 4th National Games (1999), Nepalgunj • Gold — 5th Central Regional Karate Championship (2002), Bhaktapur • Gold — Khukuri Karate Championship (2002), Banepa • Gold — Dhirendra Memorial National Karate Championship (2002), Kathmandu • Gold — 5th National Karate Championship (2004), Kathmandu • Gold — 6th National Karate Championship (2006), Kathmandu • Gold — National Karate Selection Championship (2007), Kathmandu