Nepalese Athletes to Participate in 23 Sports at Asian Games Amid Uncontroversial Preparation

June 18, Kathmandu – Ramcharitra Mehta, Secretary Member of the National Sports Council (Rakhap), and Jeevan Ram Shrestha, President of the Nepal Olympic Committee (NOC), expressed confidence that Nepalese athletes’ participation in the 20th Asian Games (Asiad) will proceed without controversy and that they will compete free from pressure. Speaking at a dialogue organized by the Nepal Sports Journalists Forum (NSJF) on the occasion of World Sports Journalists Day on Thursday, both officials noted that smooth cooperation is underway to ensure a dispute-free involvement.

Secretary Member Mehta stated, “There have been some disputes, but we have managed to set them aside. Now, there will be no controversies in Asian sports. The athletes will soon be sent abroad for training and will focus solely on winning medals.” In the past, disagreements between Rakhap and NOC adversely affected major competitions, resulting in athletes entering these events with weakened morale. This time, that situation has been completely eliminated, as declared by the heads of both principal organizations.

Both Mehta and Shrestha also called for amendments to the National Sports Development Act 2077 to secure a long-term resolution for Nepalese sports. Mehta indicated that the revision process for the Act would begin shortly. “There are challenges, and to address them, we need to amend the Act or possibly create a new one. Preparations are ongoing,” he said. Similarly, NOC President Shrestha emphasized the necessity not only to amend the Act but also to revise the associated regulations. He remarked, “Regulations have often been changed based on individual interests, and particular attention is required to prevent that.”

According to Secretary Member Mehta, Nepal will participate in 23 sports at this year’s Asian Games, with 140 athletes representing the country. He noted that the government has allocated NPR 28 million for Asian Games preparations, with an additional NPR 112 million earmarked for participation. They are committed to achieving the government’s goal of winning medals including gold and plan to start sending athletes for overseas training in the coming months.

NSJF President Niranjan Adhikari highlighted that July 2 is commemorated as World Sports Journalists Day, marking 100 years since the establishment of AIPS. He added that AIPS has branches worldwide and that Nepal’s NSJF is an official member of the new AIPS organization.