Kathmandu, January 11

Nepal had high hopes from judokas in the 11th South Asian Games five years ago, especially from Debu Thapa who was expected to win gold medal. The players were also excited as judo had made its comeback in the regional games after two editions. But destiny had other ideas. The nine-member Nepali judo team met with an accident when a Dhaka hotel lift broke down from eighth floor hours before the opening ceremony and the dreams were shattered.

Three players, Thapa, Kaluman Tamang and Ramesh Magar were seriously injured and were hospitalised, while others sustained minor injuries were discharged after treatment. As Nepali players were in hospital, the organisers did a favour by postponing the bouts by a couple of days. Tamang and Magar could not fight, while Thapa remained unmoved on her decision of playing and came to the ring directly from hospital bed after taking painkiller injections. With tapes wrapped all over her body, Thapa fought hard and surprised the region by beating an Afghanistan opponent to claim bronze medal. She collapsed soon after the bout and was rushed to hospital. Out of the five with minor injured players, three won bronze as judokas returned home with a total of four bronze medals.

The players are pumped up for the 12th SA Games slated for February 6-16 in India. And the team wants to forget the past. “The Dhaka accident still haunts us but we want to forget that and make the nation proud,” says one of the gold medal hopefuls, Phupu Lhamu Khatri, who has been selected for Nepal Olympic Committee’s scholarship for next year’s Rio Olympic Games. The star judoka Thapa is in a different role this time around as Nepal Judo Association has appointed her as the coach of Khatri.

“I am proud to have a coach like Debu Thapa as she is the source of inspiration for many players,” says Khatri. The duo will leave for Hungary for special training, while the rest of the players are scheduled to leave for Bhopal for final preparation. “We are shaping up well and I hope the training in Hungary will help in building confidence,” he adds. Thapa is also all praise of Khatri. “I see myself in her,” says Thapa of Khatri. “She has the ability of taking in and we both are hoping to fulfill the common dream of winning SA Games gold medal,” adds the 2008 Olympian and 10th SA Games silver medallist.

A total of 12 players, six each in men and women’s sections, have been selected for the regional games this time around and coach Dal Bahadur Gurung is looking after the team. All the players will be making their debut but the coach is hopeful of winning at least three gold medals. Ramesh Magar, who was one of the nine players trapped in the collapsed lift in Dhaka, wants to take the revenge. “Last time I could not participate in the games because of injury. This year I have put in a lot of hard works and am hoping to get away with a gold medal,” he adds.

Another medal prospect, Lila Adhikari sees no reason why Nepali players cannot beat Indian opponents. “We are capable of beating any opponent, the only thing we need to do is remain mentally strong,” she adds. “Not only the players, but the coach has also put in lot of efforts and we are confident of doing well in the SA Games,” she says. “I won’t say I will win gold medal. I will try to give my best and if I can put in my best, medals will come.”

Coach Gurung was satisfied with the training and believes the players are ready for the Games. “As South Asian Games is important for us, we were waiting for this and we are fully prepared,” Gurung says. “We will fine-tune for the Games in Bhopal where we will get the opportunity to fight with national team players of India,” he says. “We can find the shortcomings in Bhopal and correct them before going into the arena,” adds Gurung, one of the nine members of the Nepali team that met with the accident in Bangladesh.

Gurung believes Nepal and India are of the same standard and luck plays a role in the outcome. “You cannot predict the outcome as we belong to same level. Our first priority is to get into the final,” says Gurung, who claims at least five of the 12 players will win gold medals. “I think no player will return empty-handed from India.”