DODHARA CHANDANI, FEBRUARY 2

The national-level sports competition took place in Kanchanpur after a hiatus of 12 years.

The third Chief Minister's Cup Men's National Volleyball Tournament is currently taking place in Kanchanpur which is popular for producing genius players in diverse games.

It has the track record of producing national level players in several games, including volleyball, cricket, boxing, weight lifting, taekwondo, hockey, kabaddi and football. However, the spectacular region has seen almost no sports events in over a decade.

It may be noted that the district had hosted the sixth national sports competition in 2068 BS. Some of the sports events of the competition were organized in Kanchanpur while remaining events were in Kailali and Dadeldhura.

Since then, there was not a single national level sports event in Kanchanpur, said Olympian and boxing coach Dambar Dutta Bhatta. 'After the 6th National Games, there was no competition here that flared up disappointment among the players and sports lovers', he said.

'After 12 years, the third Chief Minister's Cup Men's National Volleyball Tournament held at open theater in Mahendranagar. He said enthusiasm of audience in the ongoing National Volleyball Tournament in Mahendranagar has amply encouraged the players.

'If we look at the sports history here, Kanchanpur has produced players in every sport sector', he said, adding, 'Dipendra Singh Airee, a brand product of Kanchanpur, has been able to set a world record in cricket'.

The third Chief Minister's Cup Men's National Volleyball Tournament is full of 10 teams including seven provincial and three departmental teams. The tournament site is full of audience. Chief Coach of the national volleyball team, Jagdish Prasad Bhatta, said the sports sector here has become very excited with the hosting of the national championship after a decade.

'For the last two decades, Kanchanpur has produced competent players from the far-western region,' he said.