Himalayan News Service

Kathmandu, May 16:

Nepal failed to make it to the sixth Korea International Archery Competition after the South Korean Embassy denied visa for four players and as many officials. According to Nepal Archery Association president Raju Gurung, the association and the players spent about Rs 2 million for equipment and preparation of the tournament, which is being held in Ulsan from May 16-20.

NAA had organised a selection tournament and selected four players — Deepak Raj Gurung, Kishor Kumar Gurung, Ramesh Bhattachan, and Prem Chuchange, and four officials — Raju Gurung (president), Bijay Rajan Man Shrestha (general secretary), Karma Gurung (treasurer), and Dawa Chenjong Gurung (female representative), as requested by the Korea Archery Association. The Ministry for Education and Sports gave a green signal to the members and NAA applied for the visas on May 10. The embassy, according to NAA general secretary Shrestha, asked to collect the visas the next day, but the team was shocked when they found their visa applications were rejected.

“We tried to meet the consular, but were not granted permission,” said Shrestha at a press meet today. “The embassy even did not listen to Korea Archery Association, which had requested the embassy to grant visas to the Nepali team,” he added. “We even don’t know the actual reason for denial of visas. They should have atleast spoken to us before reaching any decision,” said NAA president Gurung.