KATHMANDU, Sept 16: Prime Minister Sher Bahadur Deuba has said that the government is thinking about opening a sports university in Nepal.
On Friday, Prime Minister Deuba revealed the trophy of the 9th National Sports by holding a formal program at the Prime Minister's residence, Baluwatar, mentioning that Youth and Sports Minister Maheshwar Jung Gahatraj has proposed to open a sports university in Nepal and said that he is also planning to open a sports university.
He said that he thought of opening a sports university even when Nepal's economic situation was not good due to the Coronavirus pandemic. Prime Minister Deuba said that he believes that a sports university will increase the youth's interest in sports in the future.
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He said, "Nepal is very advanced in terms of sports. We have yet to gain fame. However, there are our friends who have participated in many disciplines including the Olympics. Our youth also enjoy many sports. Our minister has told me to open a sports university. We will soon be opening a sports university. But now due to many reasons including COVID, the national economic situation is not good. However, we are thinking of starting up such a university and we will do that. I believe that this will increase the attraction of young people in our country.”
For the first time, the government has created running trophies for national sports competitions. A trophy has been made for the winning team of the national sports at a cost of around one million rupees. The team that wins three consecutive editions of the tournament will get to keep the winner's trophy permanently.
The running trophy of the 9th National Games will be distributed to all seven provinces and three departmental teams for exhibition. The National Sports Council has formed a 5-member trophy tour task force under the coordination of Olympian and South Asian sports record holder Deepak Bista.
Former national cricket team captain Paras Khadka, president of National and International Sports Association and SAG medalist Deepak Shrestha, women's volleyball captain Aruna Shahi and ultra-marathon runner Mira Rai are members of the task force.
The trophy will be sent to the far west today and will be exhibited at Dhangadhi Stadium on Saturday at 8 AM, at the ANFA Technical Center in Lumbini Province at 3 PM on September 18, at Manas Chowk in Hetauda, Bagmati Province at 8 AM on September 19, at Jangi Adda, the Nepali Army Headquarters on September 23, at Biratnagar stadium on September 24, at Nepal Police Headquarters Naxal on September 25, Armed Police Force Headquarters Halchowk on September 25, at semi-covered hall at Surkhet Stadium of Karnali Province on September 27, at Ram Janaki Temple of Madhesh Province on September 29 and Gandaki Province on October 9. In Gandaki Province, the trophy will be taken to Pokhara from Pokhara airport along with a musical celebration.
