With just four days remaining for the 13th South Asian Games, Nepali wushu players are training with makeshift equipment, thanks to National Sports Council\u2019s inability to import necessary equipment on time.<\/p>\n\n\n\n
As NSC remained indifferent to its plea for updated equipment, the Nepal Wushu Federation managed old karate mat for taulo training and taekwondo pads and guards and boxing gloves for sanshou players. \u201cWe have got nothing as of now,\u201d said taulo coach Prakash Lama. \u201cWe had submitted a list of equipment to NSC four months ago but our plea has fallen on deaf ears,\u201d he added.<\/p>\n\n\n\n
\u201cWe are training players on karate mat, which is harder than the one meant for wushu. It\u2019s not easy to train on this mat as players need to jump high and land on it. Players might get hurt or injured, but we have been training on it as there is no other option,\u201d said Lama. \u201cWe are preparing on a different surface and players will face problems in performing on proper mat,\u201d added Lama.<\/p>\n\n\n\n
NWF Vice-president Ranjit Maharjan said players were provided with nothing but accommodation and food. \u201cWe have been following up with NSC for the last four months but have drawn a blank,\u201d said Maharjan. \u201cWe could not utilise the benefit of home ground. We could have set certain strategies had we received world class equipment on time. But our players did not get the chance to familiarise with equipment and gear,\u201d he added. \u201cWe salute players for their discipline and sportsmanspirit, since they are undergoing intense training crossing all hurdles,\u201d
he added.<\/p>\n\n\n\n
Maharjan added NSC had allocated Rs 350,000 to decorate the venue and conduct events. \u201cThe amount is not sufficient for decorating this hall for an international tournament,\u201d he added. NSC has fixed Nepali Army Spo-rts Complex covered hall in Lalitpur to host wushu tournament.<\/p>\n\n\n\n
The 12th South Asian Games gold medallist Nima Gharti Magar said players were training in trying circumstances. \u201cWe have been training on a karate mat that is past its prime. We are trying to adjust with what is there for us and give our best,\u201d said Gharti Magar.<\/p>\n\n\n\n
Coach Ganesh Aryal said he was conducting sanshou training with taekwondo and boxing equipment, apart from players\u2019 personal equipment. \u201cWe requested for new equipment a long time ago but have yet to receive it. We have been using pads and gloves meant for taekwondo players and boxers,\u201d said Aryal.<\/p>\n\n\n\n
He too rued not cashing in on the home advantage. \u201cEven if the equipment and gears arrive now, players won\u2019t be able to get the feel of it,\u201d he added.<\/p>\n\n\n\n
Deepak Hamal, a taulo player, said performance of players differed on different surfaces. \u201cIt\u2019s not the same to perform on karate mat and real arena. Proper wushu arena is much softer than karate mat. Jumping and balancing on a totally new surface is not the same,\u201d said Hamal, who finished ninth among 56 participants in China.<\/p>\n\n\n\n
Another wushuka, Juni Rai, played down lack of facilities. \u201cWe have arrived at a stage where we should not give attention to the equipment or gear. I think we need to focus on winning gold medals, ignoring everything else,\u201d said Rai. \u201cWe had good training and I am confident of giving my best under any circumstances,\u201d she added.<\/p>\n","protected":false},"excerpt":{"rendered":"
With just four days remaining for the 13th South Asian Games, Nepali wushu players are…<\/p>\n","protected":false},"author":7,"featured_media":1443,"comment_status":"open","ping_status":"open","sticky":false,"template":"","format":"standard","meta":{"footnotes":""},"categories":[17,19,6],"tags":[],"class_list":["post-1442","post","type-post","status-publish","format-standard","has-post-thumbnail","hentry","category-nepal","category-news","category-sports"],"yoast_head":"\n