KATHMANDU: The Nepal Weightlifting Association (NWA) today felicitated Olympian Kamal Bahadur Adhikari more than a year after their commitment to award the weightlifter with cash prize for his record breaking performance at the Beijing Olympics in China in 2008.

The 10th South Asian Games gold medallist Nepal Army weightlifter was presented Rs 25,000 which was collected from the NWA officials for setting a new national record in Beijing. Kamal set a new Snatch national record by lifting 154 kg at the Beijing Olympics breaking his own previous mark of 153kg. The NWA had announced the cash prize to the weightlifter at the time he set the record.

National Sports Council (NSC) vice-president Pitambar Timilsina handed over the sum to the weightlifter during a sports gears distribution programme here today. Six weightlifters, two coaches and a team manager received the gears that included tracksuits, t-shirts and weightlifting kits. The NWA managed to distribute the gears with a collective efforts from the NSC board member Geeta Shrestha, former national weight lifter Brijendra Bikram Shah and the director of Gosaikunda Cooperatives Badri Mainali.

The NWA also revealed that they have received supports from different companies and individuals for the weightlifters competing at the regional meet. The vice-president of NWA Sharada Bhakta Ranjit has contributed Rs 50,000, Acer Company has provided a laptop and Sony Company of Nepal have made commitment to provide their products worth Rs 75,000 for the SAG weightlifters. The NWA said they will distribute the products and money among the medal winning weightlifters.

Prime announce scholarships

KATHMANDU: Prime College on Wednesday announced a full scholarship to their eight students representing the country at the 11th South Asian Games. Basketball players Yukta Ram Bhakta Mathema, Sadish Pradhan, Vinod Shrestha and Bikram Joshi, table tennis players Ajay Suwal and Nabita Shrestha, wushu player Binita Maharjan and swimmer Nayana Shakya were among the feted students. The college has also recruited Yukta Ram Bhakta Mathema and Ajay Suwal as the permanent coaches of the College in their respective disciplines. The eight players will get full scholarship as long as they study in the college, said Prime during the tracksuit distribution programme.

Volleyball team off to Dhaka

KATHMANDU: The national volleyball team left for Dhaka on Wednesday for the 11th South Asian Games. The National Sports Council vice-president Pitambar Timilsina and the Nepal Volleyball Association (NVA) president Ganga Bahadur Thapa bade farewell

to the team. The NVA handed over traksuits to the 15-member Nepali volleyball team. The team includes 12 players, two coaches and a team manager.