PM Bhattarai handed Rs 300,000 to each of the team. Nepal secured promotion to Division 3 beating the USA in Malaysia in the Division 4 final.[break]
Similarly, the only Nepali medalist in the 16th Asian Games, boxer Deepak Maharjan, and Karateka Ganga Devi Adhikari were awarded with National Sports Talent Award along with Rs 100,000 cash prize and a letter of appreciation. The 11th South Asian Games gold medalist Adhikari had won gold medals during the Sixth National Games and in the invitational tournaments in Bangladesh and Singapore earlier this year.
Nepal Taekwondo Association, which was declared the best national association, also received Rs 100,000.
Speaking at the award ceremony organized at Singha Durbar, PM Bhattarai said that the government is committed to the betterment of athletes. He claimed that the cabinet meeting on Thursday decided to award Rs 10 million as cash prize to Nepali players who win gold medal in the Olympic Games and other cash prizes to the medalists of Asian Games and South Asian Games.
PM Bhattarai also said that Nepali people are dreaming about the national team´s participation in the cricket World Cup after their recent performance.
"I urge players to keep up their good performance and ask concerned authorities for all necessary support for the preparation of the upcoming tournaments that could pave the way to World Cup," said the PM.
On the occasion, karateka Adhikari thanked the government and said the National Sports Talent Award has encouraged not only her, but the whole sports fraternity and upcoming talents.
Nepali cricket captain Paras Khadka said that the award will motivate his team to do better in the upcoming tournaments. "We have the talent to reach the World Cup and we´ll labor hard to reach there, but what we need is continuous support from the concerned authorities," said Khadka. He also asked the government to help Cricket Association of Nepal (CAN) in setting up National Cricket Academy.
On the same occasion, PM handed over National Youth Talent Award to young scientists Ram Prasad Rimal, Laxman Prasad Rimal, Kushal KC and Chhurim Sherpa. Each of them also received Rs 100,000 and a letter of appreciation.
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