Shrestha, however, says he might return as an active player provided there is proper management as he believes there is no use to play games unless there is some positive improvement in the current management of Karate. “The leaderships of Nepal Karate Foundation and Shitario Karate Association are improper,” said Shrestha.
For instance, players of all other games except Karate have received money for diet from National Sports Council. The 33-year-old player blamed the leadership of Karate for the poor management.
Shrestha was a gold medalist of the Nepali team during the eighth SAG in which Nepal made a historic success. He was the only Karate player from Nepal to win a gold medal in the ninth SAG held in Pakistan in 2004. But during the tenth SAG held in Sri Lanka Shrestha became a victim of foul play. He still remembers with bitterness that his dream of scoring a hat-trick in SAG was shattered by favoritism as he was deprived of point which he earned while competing with a Sri Lankan player. Moreover, the Nepali team did not defend him. He was disheartened to hear the media reports that he would be facing actions for his conduct in Sri Lanka though he was cleared of charges by Nepal Olympic Committee two months later.
His dreams of winning gold in 15th ASIAD did not materialize as he could not reach the final round. A similar fate followed during World Karate Championship in which Shrestha could not make through the quarterfinal.
At present, Shrestha is the karate instructor of Nepal Police team which was able to bag second position in the fifth National games. He wants to impart his experience to others and says, “I will try to produce players better than myself.” He said he is ready to take the leadership of the 11th SAG´s karate team but also said that it is not easy to win gold in SAG.
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