Kathmandu, February 1

President Bidhya Devi Bhandari today wished luck to the Nepali athletes and officials participating in the 12th South Asian Games slated for Guwahati and Shillong from February 5-16.

President Bhandari said she was honoured to get the opportunity to bid farewell the players. “Sports in not only for competition and health, it is also the means to showcase the culture and civilization,” said Bhandari at a farewell ceremony organised by the National Sports Council.

“It helps in national unity, discipline and brotherhood. We feel proud when Nepali athletes get success in international stage and raise the national flag.”

“The athletes can promote country’s identity as the world will be watching he games although it is the meet for the eight SAARC nations,” said the President, urging the players to play the role of catalyst for unity among the South Asian countries.

Bhandari said the recent success of football in Bangabandhu Gold Cup and the youth cricket team in ICC U-19 World Cup have proved that Nepali sports is in developing phase. “I hope you will give continuity to the proud journey in India as well,” she added.

The President also urged the athletes to follow the spirit of the game. “I hope you all have prepared well for the Games.

I urge the concerned authority to manage the resources for better preparation from next edition,” she said. Bhandari wished luck for the historic success of the Nepali contingent in India.

Bhandari handed over national flag to team leader Satya Narayan Mandal, the team leader of Nepali contingent.

Nepal Olympic Committee President Jeevan Ram Shrestha said the Games was a platform to extend warm brotherhood among the South Asian nations. “It is not only about winning or losing, it also helps in friendship.

I hope the relation among the SAARC nations will be enhanced after the Games,” he added. “We are hopeful that our athletes will perform in such a way that all the people back home praise them.”

NSC Member Secretary Keshab Kumar Bista said President Bhandari’s presence was a matter pride for the sports fraternity. “We will try to heal the wounds of Nepali people by winning as many medals as we can in the SA Games,” he said.

Nepal is sending a 522-strong contingent including 384 athletes in all the 23 sports disciplines in the 12th SA Games.