Kathmandu, September 14 :

Nepal Police today felicitated its players, who won medals at the 10th South Asian Games held in Sri Lanka from August 18-28.

Out of the 15 medallists of Nepal Police, karate bronze medallist Nir Bahadur Moktan was promoted to Assistant Sub-Inspector while three other karate bronze medallists Kedar Simkhada, Ganesh Bahadur Thing and Rabindra Dahal and spiker Nita Kumari Shahi got promoted to Head Constables.

Regarding other medallists, IGP Om Bikram Rana said that they would be promoted once they complete the recruitment training. “We wanted to promote all the medal winners but the rule did not allow as some of the players had not undergone the basic training earlier,” said Rana, after presenting the insignia and cash awards to the players.

Gold medallist in taekwondo Manita Shahi and Sumina Shrestha, who won double bronze in individual and team event in badminton, received Rs 20,000 each, while silver medallists — Debu Thapa (judo), Kumar Manandhar (karate) and Kanchhi Maya Koju (10,000m) — were awarded with Rs 15,000 each. Bronze medallists Ritesh Thapa and Jumanu Rai (football), Pashupati Paneru and Sara Devi Tamang (badminton), Nir Bahadur Moktan, Kedar Simkhada, Ganesh Bahadur Thing and Rabindra Dahal (karate) and Nita Kumari Shah (volleyball) received Rs 10,000 each.

IGP Rana also handed over the cash prizes to the medal winners at the International Invitational Asian Karate Championship held in Kolkata August 15-16.

Gold medallists Game Bahadur Gurung, Padam Bahadur Shrestha, Binod Maharjan and Diger Dev Bhatta received Rs 5,000 each whereas silver medallists Raju Tamang and Rajesh Kumar Chaudhary received Rs 3,000 apiece.

Member secretary of National Sports Council and chef-de-mission of the Nepali contingent in Colombo, Jeewan Ram Shrestha and AIGP Amar Singh Shah, who is also the member secretary of Nepal Police Sports Development Department, also expressed their views on the occasion.