Himalayan News Service

Kathmandu, July 6:

A Nepal International Taekwondo Federation (Nepal ITF) team is leaving for Australia on Thursday to take part in the 14th World Taekwondo Championship to be held in Sunshine Coast, Queensland, from July 9-15.

The team include athletes Tej Bahadur Magar, who will take part in the individual pattern (kata); Khem Kanauje, who will fight in 54 kg section; Neeraj Raj Poudel, who will take part in the below 70 kg and Special Technique sections; Rabindra Ghale, who will fight in 80 kg section and power breaking event; and Raju Gartaula, who will try his luck in the below 63 kg section.

Krishna Bahadur Balal, prtesident of Nepal ITF, is leading the team, which also include vice president Chetan Raj Giri and general secretary Gir Prasad Budhathoki.

Giri and Budhathoki will also take part in the ITF general assembly to be held on July 15. The

assembly will elect a new committee for the next four years.

Dhruba Bahadur Pradhan, general secretary of Nepal Olympic Committee, bid farewell to the players and officials at a function today.

Apart from the Nepal ITF members, chief coach of shotokan karate Niwas Gopal Baidya and ninth SAF Games karate gold medallist Deepak Shrestha, and principal of Prithvi Boarding School Pramod Jeet Ale were present on the occasion.