KATHMANDU: Nepal will not be participating in the Pyeongchang Winter Olympics slated for February 9-25 in South Korea after both the athletes preparing for the games failed to obtain minimum qualifying points.

“We had selected two athletes — Safal Ram Shrestha and Mani Kala Rai — for the Games but both of them could not qualify,” said Nepal Olympic Committee President Jeevan Ram Shrestha at a press meet on Friday. “Both the players were in line to obtain the qualifying points but they could not take part in enough FIS races due to adverse weather conditions,” he said.

“They could have easily get the required points but the races in India and Pakistan were postponed,” added Shrestha. “In the absence of players, Nepal will not take part in the Winter Olympics this time around,” he said. Dachhiri Sherpa, who lives in Switzerland, had represented Nepal in the previous three editions. — HNS