Kathmandu, July 8

The newly-appointed Member Secretary of the National Sports Council, Ramesh Kumar Silwal today said the 13th South Asian Games was a challenge as well as opportunity for him.

Silwal, who assumed his office this afternoon after being sworn in by Minister for Youth and Sports Jagar Bahadur Sunar, said there was no choice to organise the regional sporting extravaganza on time. “I am well aware that we have to organise the SA Games on time and I have taken it as an opportunity as well as a challenge,” Silwal told reporters.

Silwal said he took the responsibility of the NSC Member Secretary to bring positive change in sports fraternity. “I love sports the most and I am here not because I needed a job. I accepted the post as I want to do something in sports,” said Silwal, also the President of Higher Secondary School Association of Nepal (HISSAN), CEO of Golden Gate International College and owner of franchise cricket team Kathmandu Goldens.

The post of Member Secretary was vacant since June 24 after Keshab Kumar Bista completed his four-year tenure. Earlier, Minister Sunar appointed Silwal as the NSC board member under national association quota as per the recommendation from Nepal Volleyball Association.

Nepal Olympic Committee President Jeevan Ram Shrestha was quick enough to remind Silwal regarding the hosting of 13th SA Games. “We are happy to get the Member Secretary who is well aware about Nepali sports. And the main challenge of the hour is to organise the SA Games on scheduled time,” said Shrestha. The 13th edition of the Games — which is being held in Nepal for the third time — is slated for December 1-10.

NSC Vice-president Pitamber Timsina hoped for a dynamic sports fraternity under Silwal. “We want to see the sports fraternity flourish under Silwal and we are committed to support him,” said Timsina.