Kathmandu, February 11

Nepal Boxing Association today handed over the financial assistance to international referee Manju Jung Thapa, who has been suffering from cancer.

NBA President Ram Awale, vice-president and Member of National Sports Council Om Narayan Shrestha and former boxer Man Bahadur Bhandari gave away Rs 155,677 to Thapa to help in his treatment. The NBA had raised the amount from former boxers living in Macau, Germany, United States of America and Nepal.

Thapa, who also served the NBA as vice-president and general secretary in the past, thanked all the donors for helping him in the treatment. “I am grateful to the boxing family members who have helped me. I am so happy today that I think I will live for 10 more years,” said Thapa.

Former national and international boxers who have been residing in Macau raised Rs 58,555, while NBA officials added Rs 50,000. “We had promised of providing the financial assistance to Thapa and we appealed the boxers all over the world to donate for the cause,” said Awale. “We are happy that we could raise this amount from boxers from Nepal, Macau, Germany and the US,” he added.

Former boxer Bhandari asked the boxers from Nepal to donate for the cause. “It might a small help but we can make it big by collective effort,” he said.

NSC Member Shrestha said he would urge the government to help in the treatment of Thapa. “We had asked the previous government to provide financial assistance to help in the treatment of Thapa. We will approach the current leadership and hopefully we can get some help,” he added.