PRESS MEET, 12TH SOUTH ASIAN GAMES, 5-16, 2016 GUHATI AND SHILONG
January 31, 2016
Nepal Olympic Committee
Nepal is set to participate in all 23 sports disciplines during the 12th South Asian Games (SAG) scheduled to be held in the cities of Guwahati and Shillong in neighboring India from February 5 to 16. President Bidhya Devi Bhandari is scheduled to officially bid farewell to the Nepali team at the National Sports Council on Monday.
Right Honorable Minister for Youth and Sports Satya Narayan Mandal will lead the 522-member Nepali delegation, which includes 384 players and 138 officials. National Sports Council’s Member Secretary Keshab Kumar Bista is the chef de mission of the Nepali delegation. Likewise, Purendra Bikram Lakhe and Dharma Kumar Shrestha have been appointed as deputy chef de missions.
“We hope that the games will help in narrowing down the differences that have surfaced between the two countries during the recent times,” said Minister Mandal during a function organized by the Nepal Olympic Committee on its office premises on Sunday to shed light on the Nepali team’s participation in the regional sporting extravaganza.
According to NOC President Jeevan Ram Shrestha, the core values of any sporting event are excellence, friendship and respect. “We are certain that this event will play an important role in strengthening the friendship between the two countries,” said Shrestha.
The opening ceremony of the 12th South Asian Games will be held in Guwahati on February 5 and
in Shillong on February 6. Olympian Sneha Rajya Laxmi Rana (shooting, London Olympics, 2012) will be the flag bearer of Nepal during the march past in the opening ceremony.
“The flag bearer has been chosen according to seniority. It is not about age but the ranking of the game. Participation in the Olympics is also another deciding factor and we are happy to select a female flag bearer,” added Shrestha.
Sixteen games will be organized in Guhawati while the remaining nine events, including women’s football, will be held in Shillong.
NSC Member Secretary Keshab Kumar Bista informed that the Nepali team includes number of officials according to SAG rules.
“We have tried our best to keep the number of players high and reduce the number of officials as compared to the past,” said Bista.
Nepal will be hosting the next edition of the regional sporting extravaganza, the 13th South Asian Games, in accordance to the alphabetical order mentioned in the statute of the South Asian Olympic Council.
The upcoming edition will be the third time Nepal will be hosting the South Asian Games since organizing the inaugural games in 1984 AD followed by the 8th SAG in 1999 AD.
Roshan Lepcha, second secretary at the Kathmandu-based Indian embassy said that the government of India, as a good neighbor, is ready to include all the participanting countries in the regional games.
“Good wishes to all the Nepali contingent,” added Lepcha.
Shillong in neighboring India from February 5 to 16. President Bidhya Devi Bhandari is scheduled to officially bid farewell to the Nepali team at the National Sports Council on Monday.
event will play an important role in strengthening the friendship between the two countries,” said Shrestha.
