Colourless closing sans athletes
Sunsari, December 30
The seventh National Games concluded today amidst a function at the ANFA Technical Centre in Dharan but without the presence of the athletes.
Vice-president Nanda Bahadur Pun graced the ceremony following the men’s football final match between Nepal APF Club and Tribhuvan Army Club. The closing ceremony — which was shifted from Dharan Stadium after the organisers failed to complete the construction work — saw presentation from cultural troupes apart from traditional Khukuri dance from Nepali Army personnel.
Vice-president Pun congratulated the organisers for the holding the National Games successfully despite a number of challenges. “The National Games is the biggest festival for players, coaches and officials to showcase their talent. This is a proud event for us,” said Pun. “The Games is related to athletes’ lives and it is the biggest platform for those who hail from remote areas of the country,” he added.
Vice-president Pun criticised the organisers for not preparing the infrastructure on time and lamented the poor management for the sporting extravaganza. “I can understand the problems of the players who were forced to play under unfit infrastructure, poor management and other problems. The news of mismanagement and controversies are not good for the development of sports. I believe the problems seen during the seventh National Games will not be repeated in the eighth edition,” Pun added.
Minister for Youth and Sports DaljitSripaili reiterated that the seventh National Games was an icebreaking event and a historic one. “We held the National Games with short preparation and there were some lapses in organising the mega event. But we have created history by holding the tournament despite having a number of challenges,”
he added.
National Sports Council Member Secretary Keshab Kumar Bistasaid the National Games concluded successfully. “We have concluded the national games successfully, in a managed way and without controversies,” he said. “A huge number of players got opportunities to take part in the games organised for the first time in Eastern Region, which bears a significant importance in the development of Nepali sports,” said Bista.
The closing ceremony at the ANFA Technical Centre became colourless after the organisers barred athletes and officials from march-past. Only few players from three departmental teams, Tribhuvan Army Club, Nepal APF Club and Nepal Police Club were present at the venue. But they also did not take part in the match-past with volunteers bringing in the placards of the participating teams.
Paragliding cancelled
NSC Member Secretary Bista had announced that the national record holders of the Games would be brought to the closing ceremony in paragliding from BishnuPaduka. But that did not happen today as the organisers changed the venue at the last moment. A total of 3,972 players from three departments and five regions took part in 30 sports disciplines that offered a total of 263 gold medals, as many silvers and 293 bronze medals. However, one silver medal was increased after two players were tied for second in gymnastics. The organisers failed to hold two final bouts, one each in karate and kick boxing because of disputes.
The events were held at ten different places — Sunsari, Morang, Jhapa, Kaski, Udaypur, Saptari, Siraha, Dhankuta, Lalitpur and Kathmandu. Marathon (Biratnagar), Triathlon (Pokhara), swimming and bodybuilding (Lalitpur) were held a year ago. Similarly, eight sports — rugby, dance sports, sambo, rock climbing, dohori song, skating, rope skating and budokaido — were included as exhibition sports. The organisers removed Golf from the Games saying the sport did not have enough teams but continued with Fencing which also had four teams.
Chess
KATHMANDU: Central Region’s Madan Krishna Kayastha and Tribhuvan Army Club’s MonalishaKhamboo won individual gold medals in chess in Dhankuta. Kayastha beat teammate RijendraRajbhandari on head-to-head basis after they were tied on 7.5 points. TAC’s Himal Lama (6.5) win bronze. In women’s category, Khamboo (eight) finished first ahead of her TAC teammates SujanaLohani (seven) and Sindira Joshi (6.5).
CoAS Chhetri congratulates victorious Army team
SUNSARI: National Sports Council on Friday announced Mid-western Region as the host of the eighth National Games in 2018. NSC Member Secretary keshab Kumar Bista handed over the flag to Mid-western Regional Sports Development Committee President BhimOli at the closing ceremony. The NSC, who failed to reach to unanimous decision in selecting the host of the eighth edition of the Games until this morning, however, decided to give the hosting rights of the ninth edition to Western Region. KhagrajAdhikari, representative from the Western Regional Sports Development Committee, received the flag.
