뉴스게릴라들의 뉴스연대


'Himalayan Tiger' Growls for Gov't Support
Nepal's first professional wrestler turns politician

Email Article Print Article	Radheshyam Dahal (rsdahal)

In a land known more for producing sherpas than professional athletes, Bharat Bahadur Bishural made a name for himself as Nepal's first professional wrestler. Going by the name "Himalayan Tiger," Bishural wrestled in different parts of the world, including for 11 years in the United States. But Bishural feels that while his fame helped promote international recognition of the Himalayan kingdom, his efforts to promote his sport in Nepal have not received any support.



	▲ "Himalayan Tiger" Bharat Bahadur Bishural

	ⓒ2006 Radheshyam

Bishural returned to Nepal three years ago planning to introduce wrestling in Nepal. He founded the Nepal Professional Wrestler Championship Association and began training Nepalese wrestlers. The efforts drew strong interest both from wrestlers and from fans. Bishural invested almost 300,000 rupees (US$6,700) of his own money to build a ring for his wrestlers.

Finding a place to put his ring has been a challenge, however. Keshav Stapit, the former Mayor of Katmandu, gave Bishural some space behind a conference hall in Katmandu. Bishural trained more than 50 players and organized five tournaments and three exhibition matches there before government officials told him to remove the ring at the end of 2005. He has asked for a new venue but has yet to receive a reply.

Bishural complains that while he has already invested more than 1 million rupees ($22,000) from his own pocket to promote professional wrestling, he is receiving no support from the government or any other organization. The National Sports Council has refused to register his club, claiming that wrestling is not a real sport. "I'm exhausted now; I cannot go on with this any more," states Bishural. He has stopped appealing for help to promote wrestling, and has talked about leaving the country within one or two years.

Plans to leave the country have been put on hold pending the outcome of upcoming parliamentary elections. Bishural founded the Nepalese Conservative Party, one of 72 parties that the Election Commission has approved to run in the Feb. 8 elections. With Nepal's main national parties boycotting the elections in protest over King Gyanendra's seizure of power, Bishural's party is leading the polls. Bishural's previous attempt at gaining national office in 1991 ended in defeat, prompting his previous exodus from the country.

Bishural's foray into politics has garnered him the nickname the "Nepalese Jesse Ventura," after the American pro wrestler turned governor of Minnesota. Like Ventura, Bishural has a military background, having spent seven years in the army, including as a UN peacekeeper in Lebanon. At a solidly built 90 kilograms, Bishural was a natural for wrestling. His career covered over 650 matches played different matches in the United States, Mexico, South America, and Asia.

While Bishural's fame has opened up an alternative political career for him, other Nepalese athletes may not be so lucky. Many top athletes are now looking for the opportunity to emigrate.

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