Kathmandu, September 17

The National Sports Council on Monday handed over the insurance amount of Rs 700,000 to the family of cyclist Narayan Gopal Maharjan who died in an accident during the Rumble in the Jungle race in Sri Lanka earlier this year.

NSC Member Secretary Keshab Kumar Bista and Department Chief of NLG Insurance Company Limited Anal Gautam handed over the cheque to Shrestha’s mother Maiya Maharjan Shrestha. The NSC had bought accident insurance policy for the 18th Asian Games participating athletes and officials with NLG for one year and Shrestha was selected in the national team camp for the Asian sporting extravaganza held from August 18 to September 2 in Indonesia.

Maharjan was swept to his death after falling into the River at Kuda Oya, 230 kilometres south-east of the capital Colombo on July 13. Ajay Pandit Chhetri and Buddhi Bahadur Tamang (Roan) were the two other Nepali cyclists among 39 participants in the event organised by Sri Lanka Airlines. The organisers postponed race following the accident. The 33-year-old cross country mountain biker from Kathmandu, Maharjan had won a total of 14 gold, 13 silver and 12 bronze medals in various national and international events in his 12-year career.

Meanwhile, Nepal Cycling Association provided the family of Maharjan with financial assistance. NCA President Gopal Sundarlal Kakshyapati handed over the cheque of Rs 125,000 to Maharjan’s mother.

Nepal National and International Players Association President Deepak Shrestha thanked the NSC for buying insurance for the athletes. “Although the loss is irreparable for Maharjan’s family and the sports fraternity as well, we would like to thank the NSC for its move to buy insure policy for the athletes ahead of international tournaments,” said Shrestha.

The NSC had also bought insurance for the 12th South Asian Games held in the Indian cities of Guwahati and Shillong in 2016.