KATHMANDU: The Nepal National and International Players Association (NNIPA) accused the National Sports Council (NSC) for the Nepali players’ disappointing performance at the first Asian Martial Arts Games held in Bangkok, Thailand from August 1-9.

The NNIPA said the NSC didn’t provide adequate trainings to the Nepali players before taking part in such a high profile tournament, said the NNIPA

in a release.

Nepal was unable to clinch any medal in the tournament except for the bronze from Jharana Gurung in Wushu, who finished third in the three-player below 60kg category.

The NNIPA reminded of winning 28 martial arts gold medals in the eighth South Asian Federation (SAF) Games in Kathmandu in 1999 in contrast to Nepal’s current plight in Bangkok.

The NNIPA also criticised the NSC of mismanagement sending more

officials in comparison

to the players.

In the tournament where 18 players participated, the NSC included 24 officials.

“The NSC is still without any rigid plan when there is only six-month time to prepare for the 11th South Asian Games to be held in Dhaka, Bangladesh early next year,” the release added. NNIPA also demanded the NSC to form Secretariat for the SA Games preparation.