POKHARA: Tourism entrepreneurs of Pokhara have bid farewell to the Nepali team today before they leave for World Rafting Championship being organised at Tully River, Queensland, Australia from May 16 to May 19.

The team, led by central member of Nepal Association of Rafting Agencies and international coach Nim Bahadur Magar, includes the team captain Suraj Gurung along with team members Sunil Gurung, Shakti Kumar Gurung, Dipesh Gurung, Miya Rawil, Padam Bahadur Gurung, and Sabin Gurung.

Coach Magar, during the farewell programme, lamented on the lack of physical and financial support from the federal and provincial governments.

Member of Gandaki provincial assembly Rajiv Pahaari, on the occasion, motivated the Nepali team to win the competition. It was also discussed at the programme that Nepal participating in an international competition would help support government's aim of bringing in two million tourists in 2020.

In the programme, Chair of Pokhara Tourism Council Chiranjibi Pokharel, former western regional chair of Trekking Agencies' Association of Nepal (TAAN) Deepak Raj Adhikari, among others shared their messages for the team.

The team will be leaving for Australia on May 7.

Nepal secured the 13th position in the last championship held in Japan in 2017.