KATHMANDU, Aug 23: A four-member Nepali team, including two differently-abled players, is leaving for London Friday to participate in the Paralympics, which kicks off next Wednesday in the British capital.
Nepal Army´s Warrant Officer Bikram Rana, who lost his eyesight nine years ago in a Maoist ambush, is representing Nepal in the men´s 100 m sprint during the 12-day event.
Thirty three-year-old Rana, who holds the national record, will compete on September 7.
Another Nepali athlete Maiya Bishankhe, who was born with a deformed right hand, will compete in women´s 100 m sprint on September 4. Bishankhe also holds the national record.
NSC member secretary Yubaraj Lama bids adieu to players. (Courtesy; NSC)
Both the athletes got their names in the record books during the Asian Paralympics held in Guangzhou, China in 2011.
Rana, who hails from Baitadi, has a national record of 12.85 seconds to his name in men´s 100 m race which he set in Guangzhou. Bishankhe, meanwhile, set a national record of 17.65 seconds in Guanzhou.
Coach Leela Kumar Shrestha believes that both the players will break their own national records in London. Ramesh Shrestha is the team manager.
Nepal National and International Players´ Association (NNIPA) on Thursday organized a function to bid farewell to the team.
National Sports Council (NSC) Member Secretary Yuvaraj Lama wished success to the team during the farewell function. Lama urged the players to focus on their games and not to concentrate on the ongoing tussle between the NSC and the Nepal Olympic Committees.
The 14th edition of the Paralympics will be held from August 29 to September 9. China started the trend of conducting Paralympics along with Olympics since the 2008 Beijing Olympics.
PLEASE DESIST FROM ATTACKING THE WRITER PERSONALLY AND BE RESPECTFUL TO OTHER READERS.
Please give your full name while posting your comments. This is not to stifle the free flow of comments but your full name will enable us to print the comments in our newspaper.
![[del.icio.us]](http://images.del.icio.us/static/img/delicious.small.gif){kind=small}
Copyright © Nepal Republic Media Pvt. Ltd. 2008-10.