Kathmandu, November 20

The Dasharath Stadium, the main venue to host the 13th South Asian Games, is finally taking shape as the contractors started installing roof over the VIP section parapet.

Although the National Sports Council failed to meet the November 16 deadline to prepare the stadium for the regional sporting extravaganza slated for December 1-10, Chinese experts started putting in roof which is divided into 14 sections.

Talking to the reporters after the South Asian Olympic Council meeting on November 9, NSC Member Secretary Ramesh Kumar Silwal had claimed that all the venues would be ready within a week. On November 16, Silwal again claimed that the infrastructure works would finish in a week. “Most of the venues are already in shape and the Dasharath Stadium will be ready within a week.

We have already received the VIP parapet roof and that will be installed by Chinese experts from tomorrow,” Silwal had told journalists during the SAG countdown programme.

Instead of original plan of importing via ship from China, the NSC brought the roof materials via air cargo spending five times more cost. The materials arrived on November 11 but it remained untouched due to other incomplete construction works at the stadium.

According to the NSC, seats will be installed at the VIP parapet after the completion of the roof.

Meanwhile, the NSC said parapet installation at the Pokhara Stadium began today.

The stadium will host women’s football tournament.

According to the contractors, the 3,800-capacity parapet would be ready within five days. A total of eight competitions — triathlon, archery, beach volleyball, handball, women’s cricket, women’s football and weightlifting — will be held in Pokhara. Janakpur will host wrestling competition, while other sports disciplines will be held in Kathmandu.

More than 5,000 delegates including 3,250 athletes will take part in the regional meet that features 26 sports disciplines.

Nepal is fielding the 599-strong squad and is the only nation to participate in all 26 sports disciplines.

Paragliding was removed from the list after the sport failed to get the entry from the minimum three teams. The SA Games offers a total of 1,135 medals — 324 gold, 324 silver and 487 bronze.