KATHMANDU: Manju Tuladhar, a former taekwondo player, left for Chandigarh today for kidney transplantation.

Minister for Youth and Sports Ganesh Nepali, National Sports Council (NSC) Vice President Pitambar Timalsina, Nepal National and International Players Association (NNIPA) President Deepak Bista among others bade farewell to the former player here today.

The eighth South Asian Federation (SAF) silver medalist Tuladhar has been diagnosed with failed kidneysand doctors have advised her for the kidney transplantation at the earliest. Tuladhar has also won a gold medal at the second National Games in 1983 apart from bronze medals at the Asian Taekwondo Championship in 1998 and the third National Games in 1985.

Taekwondo star and NNIPA President Bista handed over a cheque of Rs 1.872 million to Tuladhar. The amount includes Rs 500,000 provided by the NSC and another Rs 500,000 committed by PM Madhav Kumar Nepal, informed Bista. Speaking on the occasion, Minister Nepali wished a speedy recovery of the player. NSC vice president Timalsina praised NNIPA’s role in raising fund for the player’s treatment. “It is the responsibility of the government and NSC to look after the player but NNIPA have assumed that role,” said Timalsina.

Bista thanked all the individuals and organisations for their support to save a player’s life. “I also urge all concerned authorities to ensure the Welfare Fund be utilised properly for the needy players,” said Bista adding that their suggestions to form the Fund mobilization committee has been taken seriously.

The NSC had recently set up a Players Welfare Fund of over Rs 10 million. Olympian Bista also informed former volleyball player Dinesh Baniya had a successful kidney transplantation three days earlier. NNIPA had also played a key role in raising funds for the treatment of Baniya.

Thanking NNIPA on the occasion an emotional Chhitiz Arun Shrestha, husband of the ailing taekwondo player, said that he would return the money to NNIPA if the treatment cost comes below the raised amount.