Kathmandu, September 20

Nepal Golf Association today felicitated the Bhutan Amateur Championship winning golfers with cash rewards.

NGA President Tashi Ghale handed over Rs 75,000 to Tanka Bahaudr Karki and Rs 50,000 to Sukra Bahadur Rai. Earlier, the NGA meeting also decided to increase the monthly allowance of the golfers by Rs 3,000. Karki and Rai will now receive Rs 8,000 per month.

Karki won the overall championship in individual section and also teamed up with Rai to claim the team trophy in the championship held at Thimpu Golf Course from September 14-17. The title was first by a Nepali golfer in 24 years and overall second. Deepak Thapa Magar had won the Bhutan Open in 1993, the year Karki was born. Rai had finished third in individual section.

Ghale said the NGA has been conducting junior programme for junior players and sending them to international events to prepare them for the 13th South Asian Games. “We have also decided a couple of programmes as we have set a target of winning gold medal in the SA Games,” he said.

Karki and Rai are scheduled to take part in the Thai Amateur Championship from October 2-6, while they will undergo training from October 7-23 at the Springfield Club. They will then travel to New Zealand to participate in the Asia Pacific Amateur Championship slated for October 26-30. After that, the golfers will undergo one-week training in Malaysia before taking part in Asia Pacific Team Championship, also known as Nomura Cup, in Kuala Lumpur from November 9-12.

Youth Development Director at NGA, Deepak Acharya said the success in Bhutan was just the start and Nepal had a long way to go. “We have taken it as a first step towards glory. We have been preparing plans and programmes and we hope to excel in South Asia and Asia Pacific region in the days to come,” said Acharya, who is also the Senior Golf Director at Gokarna Golf Club. “As these two players are extremely talented, we are pinning hopes on them to do better in upcoming tournaments.” NGA Vice-president Pavitra Rai, General Secretary CB Bhandari, Treasurer Kishan Agrawal, Member Deepak Thapa Magar among others were also present on the occasion.