KATHMANDU, May 5: Nepal’s Karate team has left for Japan on Friday to take part in 17th AKF Junior and CADET U-21 Karate Championship to be hosted by Japan Karate Federation. The tournament is scheduled for May 7 to 13 in Okinawa, Japan.

Four Nepali players Nabin Rasaili, Rajiv Pudasaini, Astir Rai and Bijay Shrestha along with coach Dhruv Bikram Malla under the leadership of Nepal Olympic Committee’s vice-president Purendra Bikram Lakhe have left for Japan participate in the marquee event.Similarly, local referees Bishan Mote, Balram Mitra, Bishan Singh Khadka, Shyam Sherpa will also travel with the squad to participate in a special course offered by the federation.

Vice-president Lakhe described Nepal’s participation in the event as an ideal opportunity to hone the players’ skills before Asian Games.“This is a big opportunity for our players to improve skills before the youth Olympics as this is the only such big competition in Asia,” he said. Similarly, a seminar will be held for referees to identify with the new changes in the rules and regulations by AKF. Examinations will be held for the referee renewing and coach accreditation as well with results to be published on May 10.

 
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