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| Kathmandu Wednesday March 27, 2002 Chaitra 14, 2058. |
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Trust created for athletes’
welfare
Post Report
KATHMANDU, March 26: Nepal Amateur Veterans
Athletics Committee (NAVAC) announced Tuesday the establishment of Gaja Raj Trust for the
welfare of Nepali sportsmen and women.
Gaja Raj Joshi, pioneer Nepali athlete,
handed over a cheque for Rs 100,000 to the committee president Ram Krishna Verma at a
function held at the Dashrath Stadium.
Addressing a press meet, Verma declared that
the trust would be used to reward the winner of the National Marathon Race each year.
"The committee will reward Rs. 5,000 from the trust to the winner of the race,"
he said.
He also announced that the committee would
organise Gaja Raj Athletics tournament in the month of Bhadra from next year. The
tournament, according to NAVAC, will feature two events – 10,000 meters for men and
5,000 meters for women.
NAVAC came into being last year following the
establishment of 11-member ad-hoc committee headed by Madhu Shamsher Rana with prime
objective to foster international friendship, understanding and co-operation through
veteran athletics. It later earned the recognition of the Nepal Amateur Athletics
Association (NAAA).
Speaking on the occasion, Joshi, former
international athlete, told reporters that his passion for sports was the main
reason behind the creation of the trust. He was one of the six Nepali athletes who
competed at the first Asian Games that were held in the Indian capital New Delhi in
1951. Joshi, who has recently celebrated his 77th birthday on March 2, was felicitated by
NAVAC.
NAVAC vice-president Rupal Shamsher Rana,
while explaining committee’s activities and its objectives, informed about its
affiliation to the World Association of Veteran Athletes (WAVA). "We are invited by
WAVA to participate at the World Masters Cross Country Race 2004 slated to take place in
Auckland, New Zealand," he said. "We do have plan to make Nepal’s
representation there, however, it is subject to availability of necessary funding."
Secretary of NAAA Ravi Rajkarnikar,
underlining the importance of valued guidance of veteran players, assured his
association’s full support to the committee. Madhu SJB Rana, Pamfa Kunwar, former
Nepali female athlete, were among those present on the occasion. |
