Kathmandu, July 3

The Adventurer of the Year award winning ultra runner Mira Rai, who is recovering from knee surgery, started aquatic therapy with the aim of making a quick comeback in the long distance running.

Rai — who underwent left knee surgery at a hospital in Verona, Italy last year — hasn’t been able to take part in any competition. Rai injured herself while taking part in a trail-run event in London last year.

Sirish Foundation, established by Olympian swimmer Sirish Gurung to help Nepali athletes and produce future champions, arranged the rehab programme free of cost for Rai. Doctor Prayoush Neupane, member of Sirish Foundation and sports therapist at TU Teaching Hospital, will be helping Rai in her rehab process. Rai will undergo aquatic therapy at Dhanyentari Swimming Pool, while she is scheduled to have physiotherapy at the Teaching Hospital.

Rai — who was announced the winner of the Adventurer of the Year award by the National Geographic Channel in January — went to France to consult with a physiotherapist two months ago under the sponsorship of sports equipment manufacturing company Salomon and returned Nepal five days ago.

Rai is planning to compete in a trail-run competition in France after three months as she will be leaving for Europe within three weeks. “A 101km trail race is being held in France three months later and I am trying my level best to compete in the event. However, everything will depend on how fast I recover. I am doing aquatic as well as physiotherapy to make myself fit for the event,” said Rai, who won the Mont-Blanc 80 km race held in France in 2015.

Sirish Foundation’s President Gurung said he was supporting Rai in her bid to make a comeback and take part in the international competitions. “The authorities are indifferent towards athletes whenever they get into problems. Rai is one of the popular runners and she could make the nation proud in coming days as well. So we decided to help her when she needed the most,” said Olympian Gurung, who is currently preparing for the Bachelor of Medicine and Bachelor of Surgery (MBBS) entrance preparation.

Physiotherapist Neupane said the aquatic therapy would be helpful for Rai and there was no risk of further injury. “It will also help her in recovering quickly from knee problem,” said Neupane. However he was not sure when Rai would be fully fit for running.

The Ministry of Youth and Sports had provided Rs 500,000 to Rai for treatment of her knee in November last year.