By a Staff Reporter
Kathmandu – Nepal has started closed camp training for the 19th Asian Games to be held in China. All 23 sports disciplines that Nepal will feature during the event have kicked off the training from Tuesday.
National Sports Council (NSC) Member Secretary Tanka Lal Ghising jointly inaugurated the training of all 23 sports discipline. The first phase training started from June 7 and will conclude on July 7. A total of 514 players including 230 male and 284 females are currently undergoing closed camp training.
Member Ghising said that the closed camp training will serve as a preparation not only for the Asiad but also for other international tournaments. He urged the players to attend the training in a disciplined manner and added that the players need training for 365 days a year.
Ghising further said that the government has approved a budget of Rs 50 million for the first phase of training. Ghising also handed over sports kits to the sports associations on the occasion.
Speaking on behalf of the players, athlete Santoshi Shrestha said that the closed camp training has excited all the players. She also urged the member secretary to give continuity to the training.
Similarly, weightlifting coach Ram Poudel, on behalf of all the coaches, said that the closed camp has energized the players.
The NSC is expecting medals from taekwondo, karate and boxing.
During the first phase of training, the selected players will undergo general fitness training, medical training, physical fitness examination, mental test, nutrition and sleep tests. Players will be selected for the second phase by July 14.
The closed camp training for taekwondo, boxing, football, swimming, triathlon, wrestling and shooting will be held in Satdobato. Likewise, the training for athletics, wushu, weightlifting and 3X3 basketball will be held at the Dasharath Stadium.
Similarly, volleyball training will be conducted at the covered hall of the NSC in Tripureshwar while golf training will be held in Gokarna and judo training at Multipurpose Martial Arts Centre in Naya Bazar. Likewise, training for fencing will be undertaken in Kirtipur, handball in Lagankhel, kabaddi in Kanchanpur, table tennis in Lainchaur, badminton at NSC and cricket in Kirtipur.
The Asian Games were supposed to be held in China in September but has been postponed due to the rise in Covid-19 cases in the host country. Although a new date has not been fixed, the games will most likely be held within 2023.
Nepal had participated in 29 sports disciplines during the 18th edition of Asian Games out of which Nepal bagged one and only silver medal from paragliding.
Nepal’s participation is Asiad
Taekwondo, Karate, Boxing, Athletics, Cycling, Women’s Football, Golf, Wrestling, Weightlifting, Judo, Swimming, Triathlon, Wushu, Archery, Basketball, Fencing, Kabaddi, Handball, Table Tennis, Women’s Volleyball, Men’s Cricket, Shooting and Badminton.
