As there were only four women´s kata teams, Nepal were sure to at least bag a bronze. However, Nepali team could not even stand in the tatame and gave walkover, thanks to the dispute between coach Hira Singh Dangol and Singha Bahadur Rana. [break]
Since only ten karatekas got accreditation cards for the 11th SAG, one kumite player had to be included in the kata team. Coach Dangol formed the team of Subhadra Shrestha, Sangita Dangol and kumite player Anu Adhikari.
According to coach Dangol, team manager Rana wrote Anu off, who was also a former kata player, and instead picked Ganga Adhikari.
“He interfered with my job and ruined everything,” alleged coach Dangol. Dangol also demanded action against Rana.
Rana and Ganga both are associated to the Armed Police Force Club.
This dispute created a mess in the venue at Mirpur and no Nepali team walked over to the tatame. As per the rules, a team should go to the tatame even to give a walkover. However, Nepali team was disqualified for the medal for not following the ritual.
Kata players were disappointed after the incident. “We were practicing till last night and we were told that Anu would be participating with us in team event, but we came to know later that Ganga was included in the team,” said kata players.
However, manager Rana refuted the coach´s claim. “I didn´t write anyone off, I don´t know why the coach could not form a team,” said Rana.
Earlier, on the second day of the 11th SAG kabaddi, team manager Sunil Rajkarnikar and four coaches had quarreled in front of foreigners not caring a fig about the country´s pride.
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