Dubai: After scaling the first peak in his young career as an athlete, Nepal’s Reewaj Neupane is ready to reach greater heights.
The Grade 12 student at Our Own High School, Al Warqa, became the first UAE-based Nepalese to qualify for the second Asian Youth Athletics Championships, to be held in Bangkok this month.
“My first goal in the Asian youth championships is to better my national record. My qualification time for the Asian Youth Championships in 400 metres trials is 54.96, but the national record time is 52.57. So my first goal is to better that mark,” said Neupane, still trying to catch his breath after pushing himself hard on a hot and humid evening at etisalat Academy, under the watchful eyes of coach Sumesh K.R.
“I have clocked 53.93 in training recently so I believe I can achieve the feat in Bangkok,” said Neupane, who has been training for the past four years.
Neupane is the first international athlete from Our Own Al Warqa and could possibly be the first high school student from the UAE to represent a nation in an Asian meet.
“I have the privilege of seeing my student reach such great heights. This marks a great moment for me as I see Reewaj living his dream. This is the first time my student has been selected to participate at the Asian Championship,” the elated coach said.
Sanjeev Jolly, Principal of Our Own Al Warqa, expressed his wishes to Neupane on reaching the international stage with his hard work, along with an overjoyed Neupane’s parents, Krishna Kumar and Radha.
