NWA President Ratan Kumar Tandon made a formal declaration amidst a press conference in the capital on Monday that the construction work for the academy for both male and female players has already begun. Stating that the academy shall have all facilities required in weightlifting, he revealed further plans of developing it to international standard.The three-storey academy will be constructed on the premises of the Nepalgunj stadium of the National Sports Council. There shall be training and fitness hall on the ground floor besides 12 platforms for competitions. Similarly, NWA has planned to make women's hostel and dining hall in the first floor, men's hostel and dining hall in the second floor. Similarly, there shall be a library on the top floor, according to NWA.
Speaking on the occasion, Nepal Olympic Committee (NOC) President Jeevan Ram Shrestha said that it was time for Nepal to play for eying medals rather than for the sake of mere participation.
"Participation in international events itself used to be crucial in the past and it was the first phase of sports development. But now we are in the development phase and we need to make international participation result oriented. We need to keep potential events in priority to achieve goal of earning medal at the international arena," said Shrestha.
Players honored
NWA also honored weightlifters who secured weightlifting medals during 12th South Asian Games in February. Weightlifting had earned four medals for Nepal including a silver and three bronze medals. Bikash Thapa was the lone silver winner for Nepali weightlifting and bagged Rs 10,000 for his feat. He had secured second place in men's 67 kg category. Similarly, women weightlifters Tara Develi Pun (75 kg), Devi Kumari Chaudhary (53 kg) and Jun Maya Chhantyal (63 kg) had secured bronze medals in their respective weight categories. All of them were given Rs 8,000 and letter of appreciation.
Similarly, silver medalist Bikash and Dinesh Shrestha who set new national records during the SAG were awarded with Rs 2000 each.
Meanwhile, NWA member Rukesh Tandukar gave away a track suits each to medal winners of the SAG.
Financial support to earthquake victim players
NWA also handed over relief amount to weightlifting players affected by last April's earthquake. The affected players were divided into three categories and handed over Rs 30,000, Rs 20,000 and Rs 10,000 respectively. Weightlifters Laxman Ranjit, Mui Lama, Ram Kumar Shrestha, Gopal Bahadur Shrestha, Gyan Bahadur Shreshta, Surendra Shrestha, Raju Rana (Palpa), Raju Rana (Dhading), Anil Malla, Lippi Thapa, Ramesh Pathak, Jeevan Tamang, and Buddhi Lama received the relief amount. Altogether $ 3000 was distributed to the affected weightlifters collected by Japan Weightlifting Association from various school students in Japan.
Asian Federation's support to NWA
NWA General Secretary Partha Sarathi Sen Gupta informed that Asian Weightlifting Federation has provided NWA with sports kit worth Rs 10 million. According to Gupta, NWA shall use those sports kits during 2017 Asian Weightlifting Championship to be organized in Nepal.
Meanwhile, NWA also honored sports journalist Nirajnan Rajbanshi who was recently elected Asian Sports Journalist Association (AIPS-Asia) treasurer. Rajbanshi is also the IPP of Nepal Sports Journalist Forum.
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