Medal hopeful taekwondo players have become the first victim of the budget crunch as Nepal Taekwondo Association (NTA) has expressed its inability to train the players abroad. [break] NTA has sent three players to South Korea and had been planning to send another nine later this month. However, NTA gave up the idea after National Sports Council (NSC) could not provide funds.
According to NTA President Prakash Shamser Rana, the three players in Korea will be called back, as NSC could not finalize budget for the training.
The 11th South Asian Games gold medalist Ayasha Shakya, silver medalist Manita Shahi and bronze medalist Yan Kumari Chaulagain are in Korea, where Shahi won gold in the Korea Open last week. Shakya and Chaulagain claimed silver medals in the Korea Open. Shahi claimed silver in the Gyeongsangam-do Governor Invitational Taekwondo Championship on Friday.
"We sent three players to Korea before the Asiad and were hopeful to send other players there for training," said Rana. "Our entire plan depends on budget. If budget is made public just before the game, we can´t train the players abroad," added Rana.
Rana also informed that the budget crunch has also delayed appointment of foreign coach for the players. Korean coach of Nepal Police Kwon Yeong Dal is looking after national players too and taekwondo association is waiting for budget to appoint former national coach Kwan Hun Jung once again.
Nepal had won three bronze medals in the 15th Asian Games, Doha in 2006 and they were all from taekwondo. Deepak Bista, Shahi and Shakya were the Nepali medalists four years ago.
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