SATV Kathmandu, July 16: The Yunnan Provincial Sports Bureau of China has handed over sports training and medical testing equipment to Nepal’s National Sports Council (NSC) as a gesture of bilateral cooperation.

The equipment was officially presented on Tuesday at the International Sports Complex in Kathmandu. Wang Xin, Deputy Chief of Mission at the Chinese Embassy in Nepal, handed over the items to NSC Member Secretary Tanka Lal Ghising. The donation includes 34 types of equipment, valued at about Rs. 8.5 million.

NSC Vice President Dhruba Acharya expressed gratitude to the Chinese government, saying the equipment would greatly help in improving athlete training.

Speaking at the event, Member Secretary Ghising emphasized the long-standing friendship between Nepal and China. He also noted that China has committed to supporting Nepal’s sports sector on a yearly basis. Ghising stressed the need to boost preparations for the upcoming 20th Asian Games, which is just 13 months away.

Ghising announced that within the next two weeks, athletes from the national teams will undergo health and performance evaluations under the “Mission 2026” program. Based on the results, NSC will work with different sports associations to speed up training efforts.

Deputy Chief Wang Xin highlighted China’s past support for Nepal’s sports development and said he hopes this latest donation, though small, will give a positive push to the sector.

Ramcharitra Mehta, Joint Secretary at the Ministry of Youth and Sports, also thanked China for its consistent assistance over the years.

The event was attended by Wang Dong, Consul at the Chinese Embassy, along with NSC Executive Committee Member Subarna Shrestha, members Anjan Dhamala, Prakash Kumar Kusari, and Himal Kumar Shrestha. Department heads, national team athletes under Mission 2026, and coaches were also present.