E-Kantipur

DHAKA, JAN 30 - Nepal's hope of bagging gold in judo in the 11th South Asia Games suffered a serious setback on Friday when three judokas suffered injuries in a elevator accident a day before their events. This happened at Imperial Hotel where they are staying.

The three have been identified as Debu Thapa, Kaluman Tamang and Ramesh Magar. There were also seven other Nepali athletes including an official in the lift but the remaining others are doing fine after receiving some minor treatment, said Tilak Raut, an official.   

The accident occurred (12:35 local time) when an overcrowded lift broke down and fell from the fourth floor to the ground floor. Out of the total injured -- who were admitted to Square Hospital (some 10km from the incident site), eight were from judo team and two belonged to the weightlifting team.

Other than the three judokas, others who sustained injuries are Rajan Joshi, Parshu Ram Chaudhary, Deep Krishna Shrestha and Dhyan Basnet, all from the judo team. The weightlifting team has Gopal Bahadur Shrestha and Gyan Bahadur Shrestha.

“My boys (weightlifters) can perform but I am not sure whether they will be able to play well,” said Raut.

Olympian and former SAG silver medalist Debu Thapa, who is said to be the most serious among the nine injured, was in tears when she was lifted to the ambulance some 20 minutes after the incident.

Tipped among the favourites to clinch gold in her weight category, Debu will now have to wait for one more year to make her dreams come true. More than 8,000 athletes and officials have gathered here for the SAG.

Laser lights, fireworks declare games open

A unique aquatic show, cultural dances and fireworks marked the opening ceremony of 11th South Asian Games (SAG) amid fears of security at the Bangabandu Stadium in Dhaka on Friday.

Bangladeshi Prime Minister Sheikh Hassina declared the games open, and in a short while pigeons were released up in the air, wishing for prevailing peace. Various government officials accompanied by sports icons of the country were also part of the ceremony giving speeches wishing for the successful conduction of the games.

As huge sculptors of magpie robins (the national bird of the country and the mascot of the games) took rounds at the stadium, schools children donned in traditional attires accompanied the bird wishing for peace and prosperity. 

Cultural events depicting the different lifestyles of Bangladesh dominated much of show watched by a houseful crowd of Bangabandhu Stadium. But none could match the performance of the students at the eastern part of the stadium, who displayed a human collage to go with the songs and dances being played. Some collages gave the visiting audiences a glimpse of the ecosystem in the country, while some showed the national heroes of the country. The aquatic show, one of the highlights of the events, had the crowd bedazzled. Performed by schools students attired in colourful outfits, highlighted by lazar lights in a darkened platform, again inacted various roles up in the stage showing some of the cultural and heritage aspects of the country. 

National Sports Council member secretary Hari Babu Chaudhary led the Nepali delegation of 430 members including 278 athletes. Host country Bangladesh has the largest contingent with 332 athletes, followed by India with 320 and Sri Lanka with 308. Bhutan has the smallest number (49), while Afghanistan has 119. Despite security fears, the SAG has received a total of 1793 participants competing in 23 different events, which will take places in 22 different venues.

This is the third time Bangladesh is hosting the regional meet with the first one being way back in 1985, the second edition and in 1993.

 

Posted on: 2010-01-30 01:40

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