Kathmandu, January 14

Nepal has dominated in long distance races in the South Asian Games and chief coach Sushil Narshing Rana hopes to do better in next month’s 12th South Asian Games in India.

Rana says the current athletics team preparing for the regional games is full of young and energetic athletes and he believes better results from them in the South Asian sports extravaganza. Out of the 22 athletes participating in the SA Games, 19 are making their international debut. “These players are fresh and they have potential to win medals for the country,” says Rana.

The Nepal APF Club athletics coach, Rana says Nepali athletes are strong in middle and long distance races, while a couple of field event players are also capable of touching medal. “Rookie Puspendra Kumar Goit is promising in long jump, while Chandrakala Lamgade has the ability to win medals in javelin throw and shot-put,” he says.

Nepal won gold medals in marathon and middle distance races in the last two editions of the regional games. This year, Bhumi Raj Rai and Khim Bahadur Khatri have been selected in marathon, while Hari Kumar Rimal (5,000m and 10,000m) and Gopi Chand Parki (10,000m) are set for middle distance races. “Our marathon runners Bhumiraj Rai and Khim Bahadur Khatri are in pick form and they are hard to beat in our region, while the middle distance runners have recently done well in international events and are expected to meet our expectations,” he says.

Rana says South Asian Games is a platform to win medals for Nepali players and the team is preparing well. “We go for participation and better personal records in events like Asian Games and Olympics. But in SA Games, we go for medals and we can do that as well,” he says.

The coach, however, is not satisfied with the training facilities and duration of the camp. “The national team players have been training since last year, while the new ones started their preparation only two months ago,” he says.

Only half of the 22-member are from national team, while others were picked from selection tournament. “Overall the preparation period is short but we are utilising it nicely as the players are cooperative,” he says.

“Dasharath Stadium is the only facility available in the town and we are forced to share the pitch with various teams and individuals,” Rana says. “From football teams to rugby and hockey players use this facility, while people also come here for morning walk. We are facing difficulty in training as at times athletes have to shout at people to clear the track,” he says. “In this context, the athletes cannot concentrate in their training,” he added.

Rana says the Dasharath Stadium track is not suitable for sprinters. “We do not have proper track and if we do not upgrade it on time we will have problems in future. It would have been better if short-distance runners were sent to foreign for training. But it is too late now,” he says. “Otherwise the weather condition in Kathmandu is suitable for athletes,” he says.