The Chinese city of Guangzhou is all set to host the Ninth AKF Championship next week. Organized by the Asian Karatedo Federation, this is one of the prestigious martial arts tournaments and could be a chance for Nepali players to prepare themselves for the upcoming South Asian Games (SAG). Five Nepali players are preparing for the tournament and they are enthusiastic about Guangzhou.
But there is a big but and their participation is still uncertain. Nepal Karatedo Federation is facing a financial crisis over Mission Guangzhou. “The federation is bankrupt and we are asking for assistance from the National Sports Council (NSC) and the Sports Ministry”, said Chairman of the Federation Purendra Lakhe.
“If the ministry and NSC help out we´ll send them on Saturday”, said Lakhe.
The Federation had earlier told the players to prepare to fly on Friday. The highly enthused players were doing their ´final practice in Nepal´ when we met them at Dasharath Stadium Thursday morning. They were, however, worried by the latest development concerning their participation.
“SAG is taking place in the near future and this tournament is a must for our players,” said coach Dipak Shrestha. Shrestha is coaching Binod Shakya, Ram Sharan Twanti, Srijana Tamang, Subhadra Shrestha and Parshuram Baskota for Guangzhou. All of them are gold medalists of the Fifth National Games held in Kathmandu some months back.
“The tournament was scheduled two years ago and the Federation knows it is important,” said coach Shrestha. “The Federation asking for assistance at the eleventh hour is nonsensical.”
Players have complained not only about the uncertainty of participation but also about training. “This training is not organized by the Federation. We are training on our own under Dipak”, said Binod Shakya.
Apart from the players five Karate judges have also been named for the Guangzhou event.
Chairman Lakhe knows that if the Guangzhou mission is canceled, it will harm the morale of the players. “SAG is at our doorstep, it is important to participate in Guangzhou. But the Federation and myself are helpless,” said Lakhe.
However, Lakhe is still hopeful. “We are trying to persuade the ministry and NSC. Our general secretary Kedar Babu Siwakoti is determined about this,” he added. Federation sources say, "The ministry and NSC are persuaded about sending the players and coaches but the Federation is lobbying for the expenses of the five judges also.”
In this mess over ´Mission Guangzhou´ players and lovers of martial arts are helpless and can only await the coming week with fingers crossed.
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