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Kathmandu Thursday December 13, 2001 Marga 28, 2058.
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Kandel,
Dangol aim for new heights in karate
By Purushottam Kattel
KATHMANDU, Dec 12 – The
late invitation of the Asia-Pacific Official Shitoryu Karate Championship left the Nepal
Karate Federation with no option but to do away without a selection tournament. The
federation did not have to repent on its abrupt decision, though. Both the karatekas
Sushmita Kandel
and Preeti Dangol returned home from Singapore each laced with a glittering silver medal
round their neck.
"They performed much
more than we had expected," was the reaction of Anandu Lama, the team leader and
Nepali international karate referee at the championship.
Kandel, an 18-year-old
karateka of Mitrapark dozo, registered wins over her opposition from Philippines and
Australia in quarterfinals and semfinals respectively while Dangol, a South Asian
Federation (SAF) Games gold medalist, beat her competitors from Hong Kong and the hosts
Singapore to storm into the final.
The two have cherished even
higher dreams.
"My aim is to clinch the
first medal (gold) in World Cup Karate Championship," says Kandel, "
and I am also eyeing on Nepal’s first Olympic medal." She has already won 37
gold medals, 14 silver and nine bronze in 31 major outings in the national and
international arena.
Dangol, with equally enviable
record with 16 gold medals in 16 participations prior to this event, echoes Kandel.
"Winning a gold medal at World Championships is my ultimate dream," says the
Sanepa born 23-year-old karateka, who considers her gold medal-winning bout at the 6th
Asian Shikhar Karate Championship held in Kathmandu 1991 as the most memorable moment of
life.
Besides karate, the two share
common interest in football. Both of them are great football fans but Dangol loves
international football as she admires Marodona while Kandel limits herself to national
football stars: Hari Khadka, Nirajan Rayamajhi and Basanta Gauchan. Dangol adores
legendary marathon runner Baikuntha Manandher, the SAF Games record holder, as her idol.
"I’d like to
dedicate my whole life to the cause of karate and kick boxing," says Kandel who is
the only player of Nepal to clinch a silver medal in the World United Martial Arts
Championship. She won the medal in light-contact event held in Italian city Sicily in
November last year.
Dangol, too shares similar
thoughts. "I will serve to the development of Nepali karate," she reveals her
plans. "After my retirement as a player, I will start a career as referee and coach
so that I can remain closely associated with karate." Dangol, who started her career
in 1987, is the sister of former karate player and coach Hira Singh Dangol, credits her
family and especially brother as her source of inspiration.
Both the karatekas were
decorated with the Prawal Gorkha Dakshin Bahu by late King Birendra for their outstanding
achievements.
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