Asian Games prize cut draws Karate backlash
Summary
The government has deposited Asian Games cash prizes into medal winners’ accounts, but a new rule cutting rewards by 50 percent for sports without international qualifiers has triggered backlash. Karate bronze medalist Tenzing Sherpa and sports officials have criticized the policy as unfair and discriminatory.
Key Points
- The government paid cash prizes to Asian Games medalists, including karate bronze medalist Tenzing Sherpa and the women’s kabaddi team.
- A revised rule gives full rewards only to athletes in sports with international qualification tournaments, while halving prizes for sports without them.
- Tenzing Sherpa and Nepal Karate Federation president Yubraj Lama criticized the policy as unfair and arbitrary.
- Officials and sports administrators say the change creates an unjust hierarchy among athletes and harms morale.
