POKHARA: Minister for Youth and Sports Jagat Bishwokarma is confident that Nepal has a chance of winning a medal in Paragliding during the 18th Asian games.

During the felicitation ceremony held in Pokhara for paragliding athletes representing Nepal in the Asian Games, which begins from August 18 in Jakarta of Indonesia, Minister Bishwokarma stressed that the athletes must play with high morale and spirit.

Expressing his confidence over paragliding as a sport raising the country's prestige, the Minister urged the athletes to take this historic opportunity to enhance Nepal's pride. "Nepal's sporting sector is infested with problems and underlined the lack of discipline and system in sports."

He also pledged to strictly control the officials heading for the 18th Asian Games. "The government will honour the athletes that win medals for keeping Nepal's prestige high," he added.

A total of 10 Nepali athletes have been divided into two categories. They would be competing for three medals during the paragliding event in the Asian Games.

This is the first time paragliding has been introduced in the Asian Games with over 30 countries participating in the event.