The organizations of non residential Nepalis including NRN UK, Sahara UK, International Nepalese Taekwondo Association (INTA) had jointly organized the program at Aldershot, London for felicitating Silwal and other Nepali players who competed in the London Olympics 2012. [break]
Silwal who represented Nepal for the first time in 1964 Tokyo Olympics was awarded with a cash of Rs 380,000 in total. While NRN UK gave Silwal Rs 100,000, Sahara UK and INTA gave him Rs 50,000 each. Similarly, Parbat Samaj and Mona UK gave him Rs 20,000 each.
Silwal also received Rs 20,000 from Pashupati Bhandari, the propriter of Everest Inn and the advisor of NRN UK, and Rs 6,500 each from gorkha.com´s proprietors Nina and Milan Gurung and NRN UK´s advisor Binod Gyawali.
According to NRN UK President Kul Prasad Acharya, the organization would give continuity to such works in future. "Bringing Silwal to England has marked the beginning of a new trend in Nepali sports. We wish such tradition of honoring elderly sportspersons gets continuity. We are always ready to support such a novel cause."
NRN UK in the initiative of Nepal Sports Journalists Forum (NSJF) had invited Silwal to see the Olympics. Speaking at the program, Silwal said that he felt proud of the honor he received five decades after his participation in Olympics.
"I had played as a youth and now I am receiving the interest at old age," Silwal jested at the program. "I thank NRN UK and NSJF for this. Watching the Olympics 50 years after I had competed in Tokyo was a very emotional moment for me. Every Nepali residing in UK I have met has shown respect and supported me. I think this will provide fresh energy to Nepali players."
Meanwhile, Greater Reading Nepalese Community gave Rs 20,000 each to all five Nepali Olympians -- Prasiddha Jung Shah, Shreya Dhital, Pramila Rijal, Tilakram Tharu and Sneha Rajyalaxmi Rana.
Suresh Chalise, Nepal´s ambassador to England thanked Nepali communities for organizing the function. The program was attended by about 300 Nepali residing in England and they vowed to contribute for the development of Nepal and Nepali sports.
Meanwhile, Sahara UK that supports the Sahara Club of Pokhara, expressed commitment of providing special training to teenagers and Nepali players with extraordinary talents.
Sahara UK´s President Nabin Gurung asked Nepal Boxing Association President Rajiv Shrestha and Nepal Badminton Association General Secretary Ramji Bahadur Shrestha to inform them if they spot any extraordinary talents in their respective games.
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