Kathmandu, November 6:

Prime Minister Puspa Kamal Dahal inaugurated the 14th Asian Mountain Bike Championship here today.

In all 65 bikers from 13 nations including hosts Nepal will compete in the regional tournament organised for the first time here. Speaking on the occasion PM Dahal highlighted Nepal as perfect destination for eco-tourism and adventure sports.

Meanwhile, Nepali bikers Sajjan Rajbanshi and Nirjala Tamrakar took oath on behalf of the riders. Minister of Youth and Sports Gopal Shakya, Member Secretary of National Sports Council Jeevan Ram Shrestha, CEO of Nepal Tourism Board Prachanda Man Shrestha, Asian Cycling Association President Cho Hee Wook, chief coordinator of the organising committee Gopal Sundar Lal Kakshapati, Nepal Cycling Association President Chhimi Urken Gurung among others were present on the occasion.

The championship, which is slated for November 8 and 9, features two events — Cross Country and Down Hill. Nepal will field seven riders in three categories while opting out from the Women’s Down Hill race.

Apart from Nepal, Chinese Taipei, China, Iran, Hong Kong, Malaysia, Indonesia, Singapore, South Korea, Vietnam, Thailand, Japan and Kazakistan are taking part in the tournament. In all, 41 bikers will compete in Cross Country — 30 in Elite Men’s and 11 in Elite Women’s sections. The participants in Down Hill race is 22 in Elite Men’s and three in Elite Women’s section.

Suresh Kumar Dulal, Dhanjit Rai, Deependra Bajracharya and Padam Sabenhang will represent Nepal in the Elite Men’s Cross Country event while Nirajala Tamrakar will be the solitary biker from the hosts nation in the Elite Women’s Cross Country race. Likewise, Sajjan Rajbanshi and Ashil KC will lead the Nepali challenge in the Elite Men’s Down Hill race. Raj Kumar Nepali, who was selected for the Men’s Down Hill section, was disqualified after he was found to be under-aged.