Olympian Thapa books ticket to Dhaka
KATHMANDU: Olympian and the 10th South Asian Federation (SAF) Games silver medallist judoka Debu Thapa is over the moon after getting a chance to fulfil her dreams of winning gold at the 11th South Asian Games early next year in Dhaka.
The Nepal Police Club (NPC) judoka secured one of the two women’s berths Nepal are taking part in the SA Games. Her dreams were shattered after the exclusion of women’s category in the January 29 to February 9 event. However, following the pressure from the National Olympic Committees (NOC), the technical committee meeting reverted its decision and included women’s events as well. Apart from women’s judo, the meeting held on November 18 in Dhaka had also added additional events in athletics, boxing, karate, cycling and weightlifting.
“I had to content myself with a silver in Colombo and I was targeting gold in the 11th edition. But all my dreams were shattered with the exclusion of women’s event,” said Thapa. In a selection tournament today, Thapa easily overcame Pramila Khadka to secure her berth in the 63kg weight category. The Nepal Judo Association (NJA) have already selected seven men for the SA Games.
Along with Thapa, the eighth SAF Games silver medallist Radha Devi Rai was also selected for the SA Games in the 52kg category. Rai defeated the 10th SA Games silver medallist Ranju Rai and 14th Asian Martial Arts Games’ participant Sushila Adhikari in selection. Rai was one of the veterans who participated at the Asian Judo Championship in Taiwan this year.
The Beijing Olympics participant Thapa was set to fight with Pramila and Sujana Manandhar but the latter walked over before the bout. “She (Thapa) has already crossed 35-year but is still the best. Players still fear her,” said the NJA President Dipak Harsha Bajracharya.
After booking the tickets to Dhaka, Thapa said she will toil hard to earn gold medal in what she said could be her last international participation. “I want to end my career on a winning note and the special training in Bhopal could help me a lot,” said the judoka, who is mothering two children.
Players to train in Bhopal
KATHAMNDU: The Nepal Judo Association (NJA) are sending the judo players to Bhopal, India for one month special training starting from December 25. “We talked to the Indian Judo Association President Mukesh Kumar and he agreed to provide a special training with the Indian players.
In co-ordination with the National Sports Council, we are sending our players to prepare for the regional meet,” said NJA President Dipak Harsha Bajracharya.
Judoka’s whereabouts unknown
KATHMANDU: The whereabouts of Raju Shrestha, a judoka selected for the 11th South Asian Games, is unknown. Shrestha, who is selected for the below-90kg weight category, has been out of contact with the NJA and have not attended training for more than two weeks.
“We have tried to contact him in every possible ways but all in vain,” said NJA President Dipak Harsha Bajracharya. The NJA have selected seven players in different weight categories.
As each nation can participate only in seven events, two players were set to be dropped after the addition of two women events. With Raju out of contact, NJA is left to drop just one member from the current six-member team.
