Nepal’s gold tally reaches six

Post Report

KATHMANDU, March 8 - Bishal Shamser Thapa, Thaneswor Chalise, Dinesh Chawal grabbed three more gold medals for Nepal taking the gold medal tally to six in the third day of the First South Asian Under - 19 boxing tournament being held at Dashrath Stadium covered hall today.

Bishal, who played aggressively right from the beginning of the bout defeated Md Kamirul Ismal of Bangladesh in the second round after Referee Stopped the Contest (RSC) because of the injury sustained by the Bangladeshi. Bishal won the medal in the 45 kg weight category among the 15-17 years boys.

In the 60 kg weight category among the 15-17 boys, Thaneswor Chalise beat Mahammad Ali of Bangladesh to claim the gold in his weight and age group.

Dinesh Chawal of Nepal snatched the gold from his Lankan opponent AMDN Abesinghe in the 42 kg weight class among 17-19 years boys.

Indian boxers who looked much experienced as compared to their opponents won all four matches played for the gold today.

Khemanand Belwal of India won his bout against Kheman Singh Rana of Nepal after Referee Stopped the Contest declaring Rana as outclass in the 48 kg weight category of 15-17 age group.

In the 51 kg weight class of 15-17 age group, Diwakar Prasad of India defeated D L Kalatapitiya of Sri Lanka in the final to win the gold medal.

Bijendra Singh of India beat N N Dhananjaya of Sri Lanka in the 54 kg weight class among the 15-17 boys. Parvinder Singh of India won the gold in the 63.5 kg weight category among the 15-17 boys defeating Prabhudas Thapa Magar of Nepal.

Among other gold medal winners the Bangladeshi boxers Md Israfil Alam, M Suraj, Md Abdur Rahim, Md Zanruddin and Md Asadul Islam in the various weight classes.

Riding around Annapurna, Lama aspires to make it big

By Rajeeb Man Tamrakar

KATHMANDU, March 8 - With a passion of biking, a 22-year-old, China Bikram Lama (pronounced Cheena ) saddled up a rented mountain bike and set up a journey around the Annapurna circuit where thousands of trekkers from all over the world throng every year. But China’s tour is little different than rest of the wayfarers.

His passion of biking has led him to go round mount Annapurna all alone carrying a weight of 30 kg , in just six days. So far it is the fastest timing a man has ever cycled round the Annapurna circuit (one of the most popular trekking route in Nepal). He dreams of representing Nepal in Mountain Bike Championship competition in the Asian Games someday.

Lama, a resident of Bhusaphedi VDC, Dolkha district became interested in biking after he saw the event in the 1996 Atalanta Olympics and soon he bought an Indian mountain bike and started going around the city limits with a dream to participate in competition.

Later on Lama joined a profession that would suit his passions. He became a part time mountain bike guide who takes the foreign tourists around the periphery of the capital city.

His first and one of the most adventurous trips was a journey on bike around the Annapurna Circuit. Staring from Beshisahar, Lamjung he completed his six-day trip on the 2nd of March, which he treasures as one of the happiest moments of his life.

Lama recalls the hardship that he had to face during his expedition that he had to complete carrying his bicycle with his travel paraphernalia which weighted more than 30 kgs. He says, " I had to drag the bicycle for hours because of the snow which had turned into thick ice at Throngla Pass at an altitude of 5,416 meters."

With the wounds he sustained during his feat, he recalls the peril that he had to go through. At one place the trail was washed away because of the landslide and a tree was placed there as a bridge. I had to carry the bike on my shoulder and cross the bridge. "Had I slipped, I would have fallen two hundred meters below in the Marshyangdi river."

He is planning to become the first man to cycle in the highest altitude at Mera peak in the Everest region, which is 6,500 meters from the sea level. His dream, for now, stands distance away: he does not have a bike that would suit such hardship. He hopes to find someone willing to help him.

He is still pursuing his dreams by either going round Annapurna biking or working as a part-time mountain bike guide to the tourists. According to Lama, he earns upto Rs 4,500 per month during tourist seasons including tips and other incomes. But it becomes very difficult for him to support his family during off-seasons when he works in the mountain bike repair shop.

A second year student of I.com, Lama has two younger brothers and a sister living in Kathmandu along with his wife and a 4-year-old daughter. His parents work in the farm in a remote village. For Lama its very difficult to save money to buy a good mountain bike which can cost upto Rs 50,000. Lama says, " A good mountain bike with titanium alloy frame cost between Rs 50,000 and Rs 100,000." But he adds, " If I can prove my biking skills, I hope to get a sponsor to buy me a bike."

But it is hard to perceive Lama’s dream turning into a reality at the strength of his sheer passion. In a country where the sports with mass appeal like football is on the verge of losing out to politics, it becomes just a bit more difficult for the individuals like Lama to achieve their dreams. One just hopes that he gets the support from the sponsors before he decides to hang up his bike in frustration.