Kathmandu, August 3:

President Dr Ram Baran Yadav today wished good luck to the Nepali Olympians set to represent Nepal in the Beijing Olympics.

At the farewell ceremony organised at the Presidential office, Dr Yadav said he was more than happy with the Nepal’s participation in the Olympics. He also believed the Nepali players’ would succeed in Beijing. “The event is of more importance for us as it is being held in China and I wish every success of the Games,” he said.

“I believe the players, who will carry the national flag, will perform to their best with full enthusiasm,” said Yadav. He also wished luck to the players to make the country proud by creating history in the Olympics. Yadav bade farewell to the players and the officials, who are leaving for Beijing on Monday.

Minister for Education and Sports Pradeep Nepal believed the players will perform to their best at the Olympics. “I hope the players will create history by being successful in the Olympics,” he said.

Vice President of National Sports Council Sita Ram Maskey is the chef-de-mission of Nepal. President of Nepal Olympic Committee Dhruba Bahadur Pradhan, Member Secretary of National Sports Council Jeevan Ram Shrestha among others were also present on the occasion.

Out of the eight players, who are representing Nepal in the Games to be held in Beijing from August 8-24, weightlifting player Kamal Bahadur Adhikari and marathon runner Arjun Kumar Basnet were not present in the ceremony. The Armymen were were attending a programme organised by the Nepali Army at the Tribhuvan Army Officers’ Club, where Chief of the Army Staff Rukmangat Katwal bade farewell to the players.

Of the eight players, taekwondo ace Deepak Bista qualified for the Olympics becoming the second Nepali player to do so after Sangina Baidya, also a taekwondo player. Other seven, who received wild cards, are judoka Debu Thapa, shooter Fulmaya Kyapchhaki, lifter Adhikari, athlete Basnet, swimmer Karishma Karki and Prashiddha Jung Rana and short distance runner Chandra Kala Thapa.

Elsewhere, National PABSON presented Rs 50,000 and Rs 25,000 each to the others seven players as announced earlier. The N-PABSON also gave away Rs 5,000 each to the coaches. President of N-PABSON Geeta Rana said the players need to remember four things while playing. “You should play for the sponsors, nation, upcoming players and for yourselves,” said Rana.

Also, Nepal Taekwondo Association (NTA) announced the cash reward to Bista if he ends up winning medal in the Olympics. The NTA General Secretary Deep Raj Gurung announced awards of Rs 1.5 million, 1 million and Rs 500,000 for gold, silver and bronze medal respectively. The NTA provided Rs 10,000 each to Bista and coach Kwon Hyouk Joung. Taekwondo queen Sangina Baidya, the first Nepali player to qualify for the Olympics when she made it to the 2004 Athens Olympic Games through competition, and the NTA officials bade farewell to Bista.

In a separate programme, Roots Fashion Pvt Ltd provided the players and coaches with the sports gears. Marketing Director of Roots Fashion Pvt Ltd Rajeev Shrestha among others handed over the adidas kits to the olympians and their coahes.

Bista Ace ambassador

KATHMANDU: Ace Development Bank Limited on Sunday announced taekwondo ace Deepak Bista as the brand ambassador. Managing Director and CEO of the bank, Siddhant Raj Pandey presented the cheque of Rs 100,000 to Bista. The bank, which is completing its 13th anniversary this month, has planned to use Bista and his images in various promotional activities. Pandey also wished luck to Bista for his success in the Olympics. Thanking the bank for the initiative, Bista said: “I will try not to let you and your contributions for the sports down,” said Bista. — HNS