KATHMANDU: Nepal Taekwondo Association (NTA), on behalf of the former national taekwondo stars and coaches residing in the US, felicitated the 11th South Asian Games medallists here today.

Bidhan Lama, Narayan Gurung, Sabita Raj Bhandari, Kishore Shrestha, Kamal Bahadur Chhetri, Koshish Khadka, Jagan Lal Shrestha, Simi Dhami, Basanta Pandey, Padma Gurung, Bima Rai, Kumar Karki among others collected funds in the US to reward the 11th SA Games stars. Minister for Tourism and Civil Aviation Sarat Singh Bhandari handed over Rs 50,000 each of gold medallists Deepak Bista and Ayesha Shakya and Rs 25,000 each to silver winners Kumar Manandhar and Manita Shahi. Likewise, bronze medal winners Yan Kumar Chaulagain and Dan Bahadur Airee got Rs 15,000 each. Coach Kwon Young Dal also got Rs 5,000. The taekwondo stars also received letters of appreciation.

The two-time Asian Games bronze medallist Bista was presented with an additional Rs 50,000 for his record breaking fourth successive gold medals in Dhaka. Bista, the only second Nepali players after Sangina Baidhya to earn Olympic berths, became the first player in the South Asian Games to win four consecutive gold medals.

Speaking on the occasion, Bista thanked all the former taekwondo players and coaches for expressing solidarity with the gesture to appreciation. “We have always longed to be a player like Bidhan Lama, Kishore Shrestha and many more other former stars. And their appreciation for us would always motivate us to play better,” said Bista.

Meanwhile, Bista is also set to travel to South Korea to attend a felicitation programme. Various Nepali groups and individuals including NRN South Korea, NCC Korea and Nepal Entrepreneur Association among others are set to honour Bista with cash on April 4.

Prime College honours its players

KATHMANDU: Prime College on Thursday feted eight of their college players who represented Nepal in the 11th South Asian Games in Dhaka in January-February. Chairman of the college prof Sundar Shyam Bhakta Mathema rewarded Wushu gold medallist Binita Maharjan with a Pentium-IV computer and table tennis kits to the member of the Nepali Table Tennis bronze winner Ajay Suwal. Other six players — Nabita Shrestha, Nayana Shakya, Sudeep Pradhan, Yuktaram Bhakta Mathema, Bikram Joshi and Binod Shrestha — were presented with letter of felicitations. Principal of the college Naresh Shrestha was also present on the occasion.