Kathmandu, November 16

The National Sports Council today claimed to bag at least 50 gold medals in the 13th South Asian Games slated for December 1-10 in Kathmandu, Pokhara and Janakpur.

Speaking at a programme to mark the 15-day countdown of the regional sporting extravaganza, NSC Member Secretary Ramesh Kumar Silwal said the home team would create history this time around. “We have prepared well this time around and as per our internal assessment we will walk away with at least 50 gold medals in the SA Games,” claimed Silwal.

Silwal also said the players would be motivated with the rewards from government. “Prime Minister KP Sharma Oli will address the athletes next week and he will also announce the rewards for the players which will further motivate them to do well in the Games,” he added.

Asked about the venues, Member Secretary Silwal said all competition facilities were ready except for Dasharath Stadium and swimming pool in Kathmandu and Pokhara Stadium. “Most of the venues are already in shape and the Dasharath Stadium will be ready within a week. We have already received the roof for the VIP parapet and that will be installed by Chinese experts from tomorrow. If we are to believe the experts, all three venues will be ready in a week time,” he claimed.

Silwal said the NSC would now begin the beautification of the city to welcome foreign delegates. “It would have been better if we had completed the construction works six months ago.

But we could not do that. We still have 15 days left for preparation and we are doing as per our capacity. Now that the countdown has began, the metropolitan city offices in Kathmandu, Lalitpur, Kirtipur, Janakpur and Pokhara will start decorating the respective cities,” he added.

More than 5,000 delegates including 3,250 athletes will take part in the regional meet that features 27 sports disciplines. Nepal is fielding the highest number of athletes — 648 — and is the only nation to participate in all 27 sports disciplines. SA Games powerhouse, India is sending 521 athletes in 20 disciplines, while Sri Lanka has entered 612 athletes in 25 disciplines. Likewise, Bangladesh is sending 591 athletes in 25 disciplines, while Pakistan will send 413 athletes in 18 sports. Bhutan (135) and Maldives (332) will take part in 14 and 10 disciplines respectively.

The SA Games offers a total of 1135 medals — 324 gold, 324 silver and 487 bronze — with swimming being at the top with 38 gold medals. Athletics offers 36 gold medals, while taekwondo is third at 29. Wushu offers 22 gold medals, while weightlifting, shooting and wrestling offer 20 each. Karate (19), boxing (16), judo (15), fencing (12) and archery (10) offer gold medals in double digits, while cycling and paragliding have eight each. Badminton, table tennis and tennis offer seven gold medals each, while triathlon has five. Squash, volleyball, golf and basketball have four each, whereas cricket, football, handball, kho-kho and kabaddi offer two each.

Paragliding remains doubtful as the sports discipline does not have three teams so far. “We have requested all countries to send their teams in paragliding and we are still trying to get teams from two nations so that we can organise it,” said Nepal Olympic Committee President Jeevan Ram Shrestha. “The problem with other countries is that they do not have paragliding associations,” he added.

Shrestha also urged all the stakeholders to support the Games to make it a grand success. “We are hosting the SA Games for the third time and it is the responsibility of each individual to impress foreign delegates. The SA Games is the matter of pride for Nepali people and we should not leave any stone unturned to make it a grand success which will help in disseminating positive message to the world,” said Shrestha, who is also the president of South Asian Olympic Council, the governing body of SA Games.