Lalitpur, December 14

The Nepal Taekwondo Association today handed over the rewards to the 13th South Asian Games medal winning players and coaches.

Sumeru Group President and NTA Vice-president Bharat Maharjan had provided the association with Rs 1.03 million for the medallists.

Taekwondo was the most successful sport in the SA Games winning 12 gold, six silver and 11 bronze medals.

The NTA handed over Rs 50,000, Rs 25,000 and Rs 20,000 each to gold medal winners in individual, pair and team events, while the silver and bronze medallists received Rs 25,000 and Rs 15,000 respectively.

President of Nepal Olympic Committee Jeevan Ram Shrestha, Vice-president of National Sports Council and chef-de-mission of Nepal in the SA Games, Pitamber Timsina, NTA President Prakash Shumsher Rana and General Secretary Deep Raj Gurung gave away the rewards to the medallists. Sumeru Group also announced the discount up to 50 per cent for the medallists and their families in its hospital.

Meanwhile, Sumeru Group signed Ayasha Shakya as its brand ambassador. Shakya bagged two gold medals in the 13th SA Games to take her gold medal tally to three.

She is the fourth player to claim three gold medals in the regional sporting extravaganza. Legendary marathon runner Baikuntha Mananadhar won gold medals in the first three editions before taekwondo ace Deepak Bista broke that record winning four consecutive gold medals from the eighth SAF Games.

Swimmer Gaurika Singh equalled Bista’s record when she claimed four gold medals in 13th SA Games becoming the first Nepali player to do so in a single meet. Shakya, who had won her first gold in the 11th SA Games in 2010, also has two SAG silver medals in her kitty along with Asian Games bronze medal.