Kathmandu, September 19 :

Rajeev Bikram Shah, vice president of Nepal Athletics Association (NAA), rewarded the 10th South Asian Games double gold medallist Rajendra Bhandari and marathon silver medallist Arjun Kumar Basnet at a felicitation ceremony today.

Shah handed over the cheque of Rs 50,000 to Bhandari — who won the 5,000m race with the SA Games record and 3,000m steeplechase with national record — and Rs 12,500 to Basnet, who bagged a silver medal in marathon. Former member secretary of National Sports Council and president of NAA Kishor Bahadur Singh gave away the felicitation letters.

Shah had announced to reward Rs 25,000 to gold medallists, Rs 12,500 to silver medallists and Rs 6,250 to bronze medallist. This was the second such function organised by Shah to felicitate the medallists after both Bhandari and Basnet were unable to attend the first one, which coincided with Nepali Army programme organised to promote and honour its nine medal-winning players. Kanchhi Maya Koju, who was a surprise silver medallist in 10,000m, was awarded with Rs 12,500 on that day.

Meanwhile, the NAA bade farewell to Nirmala Bharati — who is set to participate in half marathon at the Berlin Marathon slated for September 24. According to Bharati, her air ticket was sponsored by Nilendra Shrestha of NRN association in Germany, while the accomodation charges would be borne by the organisers. Bharati, who is participating in the event for the second time, finished sixth with the timing of 1:18.46 in April this year.