The 23-year-old Nepali judoka is now set to compete in the Tokyo Grand Slam Judo championship to be held in the Japanese capital, Tokyo, from December 9-11.[break]
“My leg still hurts but I can manage to play with the help of bandage,” said Magar, who had undergone surgery of his knee ligaments (ACL and PCL) following a lift mishap in Dhaka during the 11th South Asian Games (SAG) in January 2010.
National Sports Council´s doctors had advised him to rest for 15 months after the injury, but he returned to action after 11 months winning a silver medal in the Fourth National Judo Championship held in Rajbiraj in December 2010.
Magar has also proved himself as one of the best judo players not only in Nepal but in the whole of South Asia with his promising display in Pakistan. During the event in Pakistan, he won a gold medal defeating all his opponents in the men´s team event and a silver in the individual category while he was still nursing his injuries.
He should have won gold in the individual category of U-66 kg too, but the referee´s controversial decision deprived him of gold in South Asia´s highest-level judo competition besides the SAG.
“I had scored full points (ippon) for toppling an Indian opponent but the referee ruled it as foul,” said Magar, who had appealed against the decision.
Although deprived of gold, his strong willpower underlines a bright prospect for Magar who achieved such a feat against the odds.
Magar had made his international debut during the First Asian Martial Arts Championship in Bangkok, Thailand in 2009, where he was the only Nepali judo player to avoid being knocked out. Magar had put up a good display in Bangkok, but his opponent was declared the winner despite having equal points.
Luck has betrayed him time and again, but he is once again relying on luck, besides his efforts, for success in the upcoming Tokyo Grand Slam.
Even though the championship features the best judo players of the world, a defiant Magar is hopeful of securing an Olympic berth from the event.
“It´s all about luck. It is going to be tough but anything can happen in a game,” says Magar.
Magar´s coach Indra Dangol is more realistic and says that it is a Herculean task to win medal in such a big event.
“We can compete well with South Asian nations but it´s difficult to defeat players from countries like Japan, China and Korea. This tournament will help us gain experience,” he said.
Nepal Judo Association President Deepak Harsha Bajracharya said even participation in the event will help them get points which will be useful in qualifying for the London Olympics.
Besides Magar, another judo player Sushila Adhikari of Nepal Police Club will also compete in Tokyo in women´s U-52 kg. Surath Kaji Dotel is the team manager. The team will leave for Japan on Tuesday.
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