Kathmandu, Oct. 31: Nepal Olympic Committee in cooperation with Chinese Embassy organised the award ceremony on Monday to congratulate the winning athletes and to encourage the Nepalese athletes who just returned Nepal after participating in the Asian Games. "Sports connect China and Nepal" was the slogan of the International Outdoor Ceremony 2023.
Nepal participated in 29 games with 253 players excluding officials in the recently concluded 19th Asia games organised at Hangzhou, China. In the Hangzhou Asian Games, Nepal has managed to get a silver medal in karate and the women's kabaddi team has managed to get a bronze medal, both for the first time. In the Para Asian Games, Palesha Goverdhan won a bronze medal in taekwondo creating a new history.
Ambassador of the People's Republic of China in Nepal His Excellency Chen Song, President of Nepal Olympic Committee Mr. Jeevan Ram Shrestha, President of Nepal Tourism Board Mr. Dhananjay Raj Regmi, Asian Hangzhou players of Nepal and officials attended the event.
Chen Song, Chinese ambassador to Nepal, said in his speech that at the just-concluded Hangzhou Asian Games, Nepalese athletes won warm applause and praise from the audience with full enthusiasm, tenacity and excellent performance, and made positive contributions in enhancing the friendship and mutual trust between the two peoples.
CEO of Nepal Tourism Board, Mr. Dhananjay Raj Regmi expressed, "Sport is the strongest form to connect the people, vibrant pole of diplomacy and most dynamic engine of economy around the world. Athletes are the radiant stars across the world respective of cultures, language, political system, economic conditions, age, group and ethnicity". I am really fascinated to acknowledge the great intrest and initiative of his excellency ambassador of China in Nepal and his team at the embassy who has set the new landmark in cementing the age long multi dimensional relation between Nepal and China by organising and uplifting sports activities that engages athletes from both neighbours" added Mr. Regmi.
Jeevan Ram Shrestha, president of the Nepal Olympic Committee congratulating everyone for the successful completion and achievements in 19th Asian Games and the 4th Para Games articulated, " the hosting of the Asian Games was no less than the Olympic Games, which is a matter of pride for all of us Asians". Mr. Shrestha added, " expecting coordination and cooperation with the Chinese government to improve the level of Nepali sports in the future, we believe that the relationship between Nepal and China, which has been existing for centuries, will be strengthened among the people's level succeedingly".
After two months of self-training, I managed to win bronze. With good training and playing with a free mind, I am capable of winning the gold and I am confident that I will definitely win it in future days", believes bronze medal winner of Taekwondo Palesha Goverdhan.
Parvati Rai, Kabaddi head coach expressed that this medal was a big challenge for the nation. With the achievement of this title, now the kabbadi national team should't practice in table tennis court anymore but will soon train for kabaddi in our own space. She added "for every player, success does not happen overnight, not even after two months or two years, you have to try and keep trying without giving up".
Some of other glimpses of the event:
