Kathmandu, April 23

Like all other sectors devastated by the April 25 and May 12 earthquakes that were followed by numerous aftershocks, Nepali sports fraternity is also yet to make a move towards reconstruction and renovation of damaged infrastructure.

Sports activities were reduced to almost zero because of the damaged infrastructure and/or withdrawal of sponsors, while authorities also did not show urgency in overcoming the pain.

Except for distributing a handful of financial assistance to sports persons and their families, the National Sports Council did nothing to address their suffering.

Nepali sports lost nine individuals to the earthquake.

Three judo players, Anisha Dangol, Neelam Dangol and Narayan Tamang and karateka Suraj Dangol were killed in Nuwakot, where a judo dozang was also completely damaged, while karatekas Chandra Kumar Shrestha of Tanahun and Shanti Thapa of Kavre lost their lives.

Cricketer Manoj Pandit of Sindhupalchowk lost his life in the quake, while chief volleyball coach Keshav Lal Shrestha was killed in Kathmandu.

Also, sports journalist Suman Bhomjan’s body was recovered from the rubble of a collapsed house in Kathmandu.

Many sports persons were injured throughout the nation and scores of athletes lost their family members.

The 2010 Asian Games bronze medal winning boxer Deepak Maharjan suffered the most.

He lost four members of his family — mother, brother, sister-in-law and niece after his house in Bosigaon collapsed.

The wounds remain unhealed with the government remaining indifferent to the plight of people.

The country’s main stadium, Dasharath Stadium was damaged badly and experts have advised not to hold any event at the sole major facility in town.

They have suggested to the National Sports Council to demolish the VIP parapet section saying that the block might fall anytime.

But the national associations have no choice and they have been conducting regular training at the stadium.

The main building of National Sports Council itself was damaged and the member secretary’s office has been shifted to a temporary room under the stadium’s eastern parapet.

The NSC’s covered hall has got a yellow sticker but the authorities have given green signal to host tournaments without carrying out any renovation.

Recently, the covered hall hosted the South Asian Women’s Basketball Championship.

The NSC has not even constructed the boundary wall damaged by the earthquake on its premises.

Except for investing small amounts on renovation of a couple of venues, the government has done nothing much to preparing the stadiums and covered halls for local tournaments, which has affected sports activities throughout the country.

A number of tournaments was cancelled, while lack of facilities has forced the postponement of regular events.

The NSC itself could not hold the seventh National Games in the eastern region.

Not everything is in the worst shape though. Some national associations took the initiative and with the help of international organisations renovated the facilities to organise events, while others remain the same.

The International Cricket Council stepped in to renovate and prepare the TU Stadium for the ICC World Cricket League Championship matches against Namibia, while international bodies of football, table tennis, judo, taekwondo, cricket, badminton and athletics not only helped the affected players but also assured contributions to renovate their facilities.

Nepal Taekwondo Association was supposed to construct a five-storey multi-purpose facility at Satdobato, but the quake took its toll as local authorities stopped them from erecting the high-rising facility.

The NTA was forced to change its plan and they compromised by deciding to construct two buildings instead.

Covered halls were damaged in Kathmandu, Sindhuli, Chitwan, Makawanpur, Sindhupalchowk, Kavre, Nepalgunj and Butwal, while stadiums in Palpa, Syangja, Jumla, Kanchanpur, Kailali and Surkhet, Birgunj, Biratnagar, Jhapa, Saptari, Kaski, Banke, Rupandehi and Kathmandu need renovations.

A couple of District Sports Development Committee buildings were also damaged, while the International Sports Complex in Lalitpur has also suffered damage and needs to be renovated.

The NSC had estimated a preliminary loss of around Rs 10 million throughout the country but it turned out to be a huge loss as shown by data collected from all the centres.

The NSC has asked the government to allocate Rs 1.796 billion for construction of new facilities and renovation work as the country is also preparing to host the 13th edition of the South Asian Games in two years.