I’m down but not out, says confident Shrestha

Kathmandu, September 26

Three-time national champion and Nepal No 1 table tennis player Santoo Shrestha was confident of recovering on time for the 13th South Asian Games slated for December 1-10 in Kathmandu and Pokhara.

The 19-year-old Shrestha met with an accident in New Baneshwor when a microbus hit his motorcycle while going to his college yesterday morning and he suffered a crack on a toe bone. He was rushed to Civil Hospital and later referred to Annapurna Neuro Hospital. “On my way to college after finishing the national team training session on Wednesday morning, I had just crossed the traffic light in Baneshwor and all of a sudden a microbus came into my way from the wrong lane. I saw the vehicle coming my way and tried to stop the bike but it was too late to react. The microbus hit my left shoulder and I fell on the street,” said Shrestha, who was discharged from the hospital this afternoon.

Shrestha said the first thing that came in his mind was the final selection tournament for the SA Games. The All Nepal Table Tennis Association had announced the tournament for Thursday and Friday. “I thought everything is finished now as I knew I won’t be able to participate in the selection tournament,” said Shrestha, the lone Nepali table tennis player to win bronze medal in an international event. He has also participated in Asian Games, Asian Championship and World Championship.

Shrestha, who became the national champion at the age of 16 and has never looked back since, said it would take at least five weeks to recover from the injury. “The doctors will have my foot plastered in a couple of days and I will need to take rest for four weeks,” he said. “And the ligament problem on my left shoulder recurred as the microbus hit me on the shoulder,” he added.

The ANTTA went on with the scheduled selection tournament for the SA Games squad. A total of 20 players — 10 each in both the sections — who were under camp after the preliminary selection were supposed to fight in final selection. The ANTTA, which had announced to pick five each players in both categories, has decided to give Shrestha a chance. According to Technical Committee chief Binod Shakya, the ANTTA will allow Shrestha to fight for a place with the fifth-placed player after 40 days. “We have a written commitment from the fifth-placed player to compete against Shrestha and the winner will make it to the final squad,” he added.

Shrestha said he would give a try to get into the SA Games squad. “The ANTTA is positive towards me and they have kept me in sixth place. I will fight for a place with the fifth placed player and I am confident of making it to the SA Games,” he said. “But still I am not sure of getting a chance to participate in singles event in the regional meet which is a dream of every athlete. We were preparing ourselves to get silver medal in doubles and mixed events and we were confident of making the nation proud,” he added.

Shrestha said he would hit the form once he gets fully recovered. “I know everyone is with me. Even the god was on my side that day and saved my life. I have a feeling that I can perform in the SA Games in the same spirit that made me national champion for the last three years. SA Games is very important event for every athlete and this time it is more special as it is being held on home soil,” added Shrestha.

The post I’m down but not out, says confident Shrestha appeared first on The Himalayan Times.