KATHMANDU, June 10: For her intense dedication to her beloved sport judo, what Debu Thapa has got in return is a host of injuries. The once invincible national player with 18 years of her illustrious career, now, finds herself bed-ridden and unable to walk on her own.Yet, the 37-year-old iron-willed judoka is not ready to give up hopes of playing again some day.[break]
The only thing that drives her, despite all the adversity, is the sense of “honor” that comes with representing the nation as a player.
“There is nothing else you get except honor. Judo has given me so much fame so I feel I have to give back something in return. That is why I will stand up again and try to secure gold in South Asian Games, which is also one of my unfulfilled dreams,” said Thapa, who is admitted at TU Teaching Hospital after being injured during the Sixth National Games three months ago.
Thapa says her right leg was paralyzed after being injured during the games, but she has been recuperating gradually and is able to move her leg now.
“Doctors say that it is because of my will power that I have recovered so soon. But it will still take six months for me to regain my normal movement,” she said, quoting Dr JP Agrawal, who has been looking after her.
Thapa, who joined Nepal Police Club (NPC) almost two decades ago, was unbeaten in all national level judo competitions until the recent national games where injury ended her unbeaten run.
Interestingly, she began her career not as a judo player but as a sprinter at her hometown in Jumla.
“I joined NPC in 2048 BS after winning gold in 100 meters race in the regional level,” she recalls. “It was only after three years that the club sent me to play judo and I won gold in the first tournament I participated. There was no looking back after that. The club did not let me go after that and I went on to win gold medals in all other tournaments since then.”
She also won silver in the 10th South Asian Games (SAG) held in Sri Lanka in 2006 and was aiming for gold in the next edition. Unfortunately, she was injured in a lift mishap during the 11th SAG in Bangladesh in 2010. Despite her injuries, she played the game and managed to win bronze medal, for which she later received Pulsar NSJF Bravery Award.
However, her recent injury has nothing to do with the lift mishap.
“You always get injured as a player. It is part of our life,” she says.
As her treatment continues, all that she hopes for now is a fast recovery so that the mounting hospital bills won’t bother her.
“I’ve already spent Rs 6 lakhs for my treatment. My office has paid all the expenses so far and I will be shifted to the police hospital soon,” she said.
Thapa, a mother of two, expressed her gratitude toward National Sports Council (NSC) for providing her Rs 150,000. The NSC has requested the government to provide Rs 500,000, which is yet to be approved.
She, however, rued at Nepal Olympic Committee for ignoring her.
“We play for the country, we risk everything but they do not even bother about us. If this is the situation of a senior player like me, what would be the condition of junior players?” she asked.
She also recalled that the NSC had not provided a single penny for her treatment after the lift mishap.
“Sometimes I feel we are stupid to play games knowing that we get injured and won’t get proper support if anything goes wrong. Yet I haven’t given up and hope of being back in the game, just for honor,” she said.
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