Boxers Bhim Bahadur Gurung, Nam Singh Thapa, Om Prasad Pun and Ram Prasad Gurung had participated in the 1964 Tokyo Olympics, the first participation of Nepal in the Olympics, along with athletes Ganga Bahadur Thapa and Bhupendra Silwal. However, the boxers were never brought to limelight by the authorities.[break]
NBA had felicitated boxer Thapa last month. "We are trying to know the status of other two boxers. It is our tribute to the first Olympians of the country," said NBA President Rajiv Shrestha. "We want to bring them to limelight as they can inspire the new generation," added Shrestha.
According to Gurung, he had once visited the National Sports Council in 1997. "When I came to know there was provision of pension for us, I had visited the council once in 1997. They used to send a small amount to my bank account and I was happy to receive it since it was a kind of recognition by the nation," recalled Gurung. "I was planning to invest the amount in boxing but I stopped being paid since 2000. I never never came back to the council since," he added.
Gurung´s revelation not only shocked the audience but also left NSC Member Secretary Yuvaraj Lama bursting into tears.
Lama immediately said the council would continue to provide pension to Gurung. "He would probably not need this amount but it is just a humble gesture from the country to its first Olympian. I request him to accept the amount," said Lama.
Meanwhile, Gurung announced to utilize the amount for the development of boxing and sports activities in his village in Chitwan.
Gurung´s career
Gurung was born on November 14, 1945 in Darong, Syangja. He had joined the British Army at the age of 14 and began his boxing career since. "There was an army base at Sungai Petani in Malaysia. We had reached there via Penang. I started my boxing career in Sungai Petani as a novice," recalled Gurung.
"I used to play all the sports during my training days. I chose boxing since I wanted to be the boys´ champion of my base. In 1963, I was deployed in Hong Kong and there I became the best boxer of my regiment," claimed Gurung.
"I was on leave in 1963 and when I returned to Hong Kong, I knew that I was selected for the Olympics to represent my country," he added.
Gurung described his Olympic participation as the proudest moment of his life. "It was a unique experience to carry the unique flag of my nation and participate in the Olympic march past," said Gurung.
Gurung, who lives with a wife, five daughters and a son, had retired from military service as a captain in the early 90s. Gurung currently resides in Patiyani village of Chitwan.
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