Swimmers Shaila Rana and Shailesh Rana have become the latest victims of the battle between two Nepal Swimming Associations (NSA), one recognized by National Sports Council (NSC) and the other by Nepal Olympic Committee (NOC).[break]
The NSA recognized by NSC has banned Rana siblings for two years for participating in the 10th FINA World Swimming Championship held in Dubai on December. The NSA recognized by NOC had sent the two swimmers to participate in the championship.
The NSA recognized by NSC had selected both the swimmers for the last Asian Games but they were unable to participate as NOC should recognized member association for international participation.
Following the disqualification, NSA recognized by NSC banned all the players who participated in the FINA championship.
"Players should maintain discipline. They can´t participate in competitions of their liking and should know that we are the only NSA in Nepal," argued Jagat Man Shrestha, the general-secretary of the NSA body that banned the athlete.
Samim Miya Ansari, the president of the NSA recognized by NSC, argued that all the players should follow the guidelines issued by the NSA led by him as it was authorized by the government.
Meanwhile, General-secretary of NSA recognized by NOC Ashok Bajracharya termed the ban as unfortunate and an unauthorized action. "It´s injustice to take action on swimmers and the so-called NSA has not even given the concerned players a chance to speak on the issue," said Bajracharya.
"We´ll soon meet youth and sports minister and the new board at the NSC and tackle these sorts of injustices," said Bajracharya.
He argued that the previous NSC board took a biased while dissolving the NSA and forming a new committee. "When we asked for permission to send swimmers in Asian Games on our own expense, they responded by dissolving our body. Thus, we could not send swimmers to Guangzhou," claimed Bajracharya.
National Swimming next week
Nepal Swimming Association (NSA) recognized by National Sports Council will hold the 16th National Open Swimming Championship on June 15 and 16.
NSA, organizing a press conference on Friday, also announced to host the First International Invitational Swimming Championship in Kathmandu on July 1 and 2.
"The Nepali participants for the international tournament will be selected through a national open event," said Jagat Man Shrestha, general-secretary.
According to Shrestha, the NSA has sent invitation to swimmers in India, Bangladesh, Thailand and Brunei.
Athletes take on the ban
(As told by Shailesh Rana to Nabin Khatiwada)
The NSA body that took action against us has never sought clarification from us till date. We heard about the new NSA body taking action against us during our practice session at the Satdobato Swimming Pool on Thursday.
Shaila and I have been swimming since our childhood and have won a number of national tournaments. We have also been Nepal´s No. 1 in our events for some years.
After swimming for more than a decade, if someone can decide our fate in this manner, we have nothing say.
We are national players and we like to compete. We have nothing to do with any particular faction or group.
During the Asian Games preparation, we had participated in the selection tournament organized by the NSA headed by Ansari. We also went through closed camp training, but they failed to send us to Guangzhou.
Later, the old NSA (recognized by NOC) asked us to participate in the FINA Championship and we were glad to represent our country.
It is a matter of embarrassment if someone takes action against us for representing the country.
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