Big Challenge awaits Nepal at the Asian Games

With the Asian Games lurking   on the horizon, excitement is gradually building up. Sport goers across the continent   are keenly looking forward to the multi-sport event that is spectacular, splendid, riveting and enthralling.

Every four years Asia’s finest, brightest athletes   converge onto a single platform to showcase their talent and compete with each other, driven on by the sole desire, quest to win glory, honor for   the   country and themselves.

There is plenty at stake for athletes   who have fearlessly, tirelessly, painstakingly trained, prepared themselves around the year for the world’s second biggest sporting event, which means so much to them.

They have waited four long   years, perhaps, longer for this day. The wait is almost over.  They are pumped up and raring to go full throttle.

Since start of   the   Asian Games in 1951 in New Delhi, India, it has grown four folds in terms of stature, appeal, participation, disciplines, investment and viewership.

Around 10,000   athletes from forty-five countries affiliated to the Olympic Council of Asia are expected to participate in the 17^th edition, featuring 437 events in 36 sports.

South Korea is set to host   the games for the third time in Incheon Metropolitan City, the third most populous city after Seoul and Busan, from 19 September to 4 October. Prior to this, Seoul (1986) and   Busan  (2002) hosted the games.

It may be recalled that Thailand has hosted the games four times (1966, 1970,1978 and 1998), the most by any country so far.

Perennial powerhouses   China, Japan and South Korea are most likely to dominate the quadrennial Asian Games yet again.

To their credit, of the 12,290 medals   awarded to athletes   in   the   games so far, the three have   won a combined   7032 medals.

The games   have been playing   catch-up   for the rest ever since, and this time is not that different. We are bound to see a fresh new crop of talented young athletes make their mark.

Over the decades, a bevy of   world-class athletes have emerged from the Asian Games   and successfully challenged   the   West and the USA’s dominance.

Be it the Olympic Games or the World Championship, Asian athletes   have consistently performed well and cornered glory, as well. This trend is likely to continue and gain momentum further down the road.

The Asian Games, certainly, is the biggest and most important launching pad for upcoming talents in the continent.

The platform offers them the perfect opportunity to display their athletic prowess, excellence and go even further beyond.

Nepal has participated in   every   Asian Games since its inception in 1951,but with very limited success.

There has been a significant surge in the number of   athletes who have competed in the games. Likewise, we have been participating in more events than ever before.

The sad, sorry state of sport has   our athletes struggling to keep pace with the world.  Despite everything, they are passionate, committed, doing their very best, given their situation.

As a matter of fact, the government has no serious interest in sports. They have   all along been playing second fiddle to the development of sports.

The various sporting organizations: Sport Ministry, National Sport Council (NSC), Nepal Olympic Committee (NOC) and the National Sport Associations, responsible for the development, promotion of sports are nothing but a big farce.

It appears, though, it has become defunct and turned into large bureaucratic   organizations, catering to strictly vested self - interests.

It would be fair to say that the sport sector was much better off during the Panchayat era.

At least then, there was a system in place that worked fine.  National, regional, zonal, district, municipality and school games were organized with great enthusiasm, fanfare and more importantly, with regularity.

That is no more the case now. Instead we see   officials shamelessly   spend a great deal of time, bickering, fighting jockeying for positions. No wonder, today Nepal sport is in total disarray.

The majority   of national   sport associations lack funds and are unable to provide even the basic training facilities and equipment. Can you believe it?

There is so much uncertainty today, coupled with frequent political interference, things have gone from bad to worse. In other words, the government’s apathy is destroying the sports sector.

Withstanding the pressure of time, our athletes have shown steely determination, put on a brave face and are working even harder regardless of the situation.

Hats off to them for their incredible hard work, enthusiasm

and dedication.

Not surprisingly, the Incheon bound contingent is   dogged by poor preparation and planning   and   lack adequate exposure and access to training facilities.

Winning a medal is a long shot for our athletes. Against all odds let us hope they perform well and improve their performances.

Unfortunately, this has resulted in low expectations. Nonetheless, they will have plenty to learn and gain invaluable experience.

Do not be surprised if unwanted officials   outnumber athletes in the Asian Games bound contingent.

The practice of packing the contingent with government officials, party activists at taxpayers expense has been a common practice for decades.

One hundred and eighty four athletes are likely to participate in 24 disciplines. NOC is yet to make an official confirmation.

We will be competing in: athletics, boxing, cycling, swimming, karate, taekwondo, wu shu, badminton, table-tennis, football, soft-tennis, lawn-tennis, cricket, triathlon, archery, weight-lifting, wrestling, basketball, sepak takraw, gymnastics, judo and shooting.

Speaking of success, we have won a total of 22 medals [1 silver and 21bronze]. We had to wait 35 years for our first Asian Games medals.

At the 10^th Asian Games in Seoul, S Korea, we won 8 bronze medals, 4 each in taekwondo and boxing.

We had superb athletes in the likes of Bidhan Lama, Raj K Budhathoki, Ram B Gharti and Raj K Rai (taekwondo), Dal B Rana, Sushil Pokahrel, Tul Bahadur and Manoj B Shrestha (boxing).

At the 11^th Asian Game in Beijing, China, Chitra B Gurung won the solitary bronze in boxing for the country.

Man B Shahi (taekwondo) and Sita Rai (karate) managed bronze at the 12^th Asian Games in Hiroshima, Japan.

At the 1998 Asian Games in Bangkok, Thailand, we had a silver medal winner in highly talented Sabita Rajbhandari in taekwondo.

It was a historical achievement by the gutsy martial artist. Her feat stands a milestone in the history of Nepal sports.

In the same event Kishor Shrestha and Sapana Malla won bronze. Also Samar B Gole added another bronze in karate.

The 14th Asian Games in Busan, S Korea saw the emergence of two time bronze medalist Deepak Bista in taekwondo.

He along with Renuka Magar and Ritu Gimi Rai produced bronze winning performances.

Talented Bista won his second Asiad bronze at the 15 Asian Games in Doha, Qatar.  Ayousha Shakaya and Manita Shahi were the other two bronze winners in taekwondo.

At the 16^th Asian Games in Gunagzhou, China, pugilist Deepak Maharjhan’s bronze was the saving grace for Nepal.

When it comes to winning medals, let us be realistic here. We have a mathematical chance of winning medals at the 17^th Asian Games in a handful of disciplines.

The medal hopes are pinned on martial arts and cricket. The athletes must put forth their very best efforts   to   bring glory for the country. We all hope they succeed.