July 21:  It was an applaudable decision of the National Sports Council (NSC) when the Council, in the first week of July, revealed about organising the 1st National Para Games from Karnali as the province is preparing to host the 10th National Games in November.

However, the NSC has not yet decided on the number of sports events to be organised in the two major national events. With the delay, the hosts are left in confusion as they are worried that they might not be able to organise the two events properly in a short period of time. “The NSC’s board meeting has the authority to decide the number of matches in the national games. The meeting will be held soon,” said Khusharaj Dahal, NSC’s information officer.

Meanwhile, the meeting is not taking place any time soon. It is because the major concerned officials – Minister for Youths and Sports and NSC’s member-secretary – will be in France for the Paris Olympics. For now, the NSC stated that the 10th National Games would host 35 of the 36 games played in the 9th edition in Gandaki. “Only paragliding might not be continued in the 10th edition because it cannot be organised anywhere,” said Dahal.

The NSC does not want to reduce the number of games as much as possible because of the desire to upgrade the standards of the National Games in every new edition. “We want to organise the events with grandeur. However, it is impossible until the NSC finalises the games, teams, venues and dates with enough time in hand,” said Biswamitra Sanjyal, member-secretary at the Karnali Sports Development Council (KSDC).

The delay can also be attributed to the unavailability of enough infrastructure for the 35 sports in Karnali. “We can organise 24 sports in the infrastructures available in eight of the 10 districts in Karnali,” said Sanjyal, adding, “As the NSC informed to organise national-level Para Games from Karnali, the infrastructures are being made disabled-friendly as well.”

“As per the preliminary plan, the 1st National Para Games in Karnali will be organised in 10 of the dozen sports that were featured in the first national-level para and special sports in Kathmandu in the first week of July,” said Dahal.

Infrastructures in Karnali

According to the KSDC, the province has spent on the infrastructure of sports that are played in the region. Karnali Stadium, with a capacity to accommodate 10,000 viewers, was taken up as the national pride project. It is the only pride project of the province since Nepal opted for federalism. 

“Paragliding, squash, lawn and soft tennis, golf, shooting and archery are not popular sports in Karnali. We cannot construct infrastructure for the sports that have no players in the region. Thus, we have prioritised structures for popular sports of Karnali,” said Sanjyal.

The main stadium and structures on its premises will host 17 sports. Two cricket grounds are being prepared in Birendranagar. Similarly, a swimming pool is also at the final stage of completion.

“The internal construction has been completed. The stadium awaits a final touch. It will be completed with enough time for our provincial athletes to train there,” said Sanjyal.

Surkhet will also be hosting boxing, rugby, wrestling, volleyball and Kho Kho. On the other hand, covered halls are being prepared in Kalikot, Jajarkot, Rukum West and Dailekh. A hockey ground is being prepared in Humla. As per a prior proposal for the 10th National Games, Jumla was suggested for chess and full-contact karate.

“We have proposed to include events in other districts of the province so that the people will get attracted towards the sports sector. It will not be possible if the organisational structure of the event is not decided soon,” Sanjyal stressed.

Moreover, Sanjyal informed that the province was preparing a standard for the stadium’s operation. “A consultant company has also been hired to do homework on how the stadium can be preserved and maintained for future events.”

Karnali’s plan

Karnali’s athletes were the only ones to wear a traditional outfit while marching at the inauguration of the 14th President Running Shield in Kathmandu on April 17, 2024.

“We plan to provide locally-produced clothes to our athletes in the national games. The stadium and other infrastructures will be designed and painted to portray the history, cultureand tradition of Karnali. We are yet to decide on a souvenir for the participants,” said Sanjyal. As the districts in Karnali do not have enough accommodation facilities, the KSDC is planning to organise the sports on different dates. “It will help us manage athletes and matches. We cannot organise all the sports at once. Some sports, like football and cricket, might start before the official inauguration,” Sanjyal added.

Karnali has been at the bottom of the medal tally in every national game. Meanwhile, the province has been preparing better to improve their results on home turf. The province has been training its best athletes and teenagers who showed promise at the 14th President Running Shield. They have been in a closed camp for several months.

“Karnali’s aim in the 10th National Games is a two-digit gold medal win,” Sanjyal stressed. Karnali is preparing to have its athletes compete in 22, if possible 24, sports. Karnali also plans to propose giving the daily allowance for food and lodging directly to the teams. “Athletes are eating less and living poorly to save some money from the allowance. Thus, we have proposed to deduct some amount for food and lodge and transfer the remaining amount to the athletes/officials’ bank account,” Sanjyal said.

The overall budget for the operation of the 10th National Games is Rs. 600 million. “The NSC spent Rs. 530 million in the 9th National Games,” said Dahal.

Other teams’ plan  

After featuring in the 8th and 9th national games, the NSC does not plan to allow the Non-Resident Nepali Association (NRNA) to participate in the 10th edition. 

“We have proposed to organise the event among the 10 teams – seven provinces and three departmental clubs,” said Dahal.

However, the delay in deciding on the event has left other teams in confusion.

“As the number of sports in the 10th National Games and 1st Para Games has not been decided yet, we have not been able to call athletes for a closed camp. It has delayed and affected our preparation,” said Komal Khadka, an official at the Koshi Sports Development Board.

The scenario is similar in other provinces for preparations as they are also waiting for a decision on the tournament and its fixtures/schedules. 

“Our athletes follow the daily routine of a security personnel. They are always training and preparing for tournaments. It would still be helpful for the athletes to set their minds if the fixtures were announced soon,” said Ramesh Pandey, Senior Superintendent of APF, of Armed Police Force, one of the departmental clubs.

As the provincial authorities have not invested enough in sports, they cannot retain athletes throughout the year. It is why the departmental clubs, with regular training, dominate the national event. Since 2016, Tribhuwan Army Club, APF Club and Nepal Police Club have dominated the medal tally. Nepal Army has won the past three editions consecutively.