KATHMANDU: National Sports Council (NSC) committed Rs 500,000 for the treatment of the former Nepali taekwondo international Manju Tuladhar here today.

The eighth South Asian Federation (SAF) silver medalist Tuladhar has been diagnosed with failed kidneys and has been undergoing dialysis twice a week. Doctors have advised her for the kidney transplantation at the earliest. Tuladhar also has a gold medal under her belt at the second National Games in 1983 apart from bronze medals at the Asian Taekwondo Championship in 1998 and the third National Games in 1985.

Minister for Youth and Sports Ganesh Nepali handed over the commitment letter for the assistance of Rs 500,000 to Tuladha. Minister Nepali said that the ministry had provided financial assistance in the past and is committed to do the same for Tuladhar. The Youth and Sports ministry had released Rs 500,000 for the treatment of former Nepali volleyball international Dinesh Baniya, who was also diagnosed with failed kidneys.

"We are providing the assistance under the directive of the minister (Nepali)," said the Acting NSC Member Secretary Min Krishna Maharjan. Maharjan said that the amount will be handed over to Tuladhar as soon as the Member Secretary Hari Babu Chaudhary returns home from China. Chaudhary is currently in Guangzhou to attend a meeting of the Che-de-Missions of the upcoming 16th Asian Games.

Speaking on the occasion, Tuladhar thanked NSC and especially National and International Players Association (NNIPA) for their support to raise money for her treatment. The NNIPA President and Olympian Deepak Bista appealed NSC to release the amount as soon as possible. "It's been more than two months we have been knocking the NSC doors and we are thankful to the Acting NSC Member Secretary (Maharjan) for finally listening to our requests," said Bista.

General Secretary of the Nepal Taekwondo Association (NTA) Deep Raj Gurung also said that their association is raising fund for Tuladhar and will hand over the amount in a few days. Meanwhile, NTA vice-president Kiran Baidhya has announced Rs 50,000 personal donation for Tuladhar.