The state should pay special attention to preparing sportspersons from the local level –President

Kathmandu: President Ramchandra Paudel has stressed the need for the State to pay special attention towards producing athletes from the local level to make the country known across the globe through the medium of sports.

Inaugurating the 14th President Running Shield Sports Competition organized in Kathmandu yesterday by the Ministry of Youth and Sports, President Paudel stressed that the State should pay special attention to ensuring necessary resources, competent coaches and infrastructure development for sports sector advancement.

Sports should also be developed by building various development infrastructures in the villages. Education and sports are two sides of the same coin. While classroom education opens the eyes and minds of the students, sports makes the brain and mind active and disciplined”, Poudel said, adding, “Local and province governments should lay special attention to ensure that the players can survive in the village, district and province and make a bright future in sports. The private sector should also equally come together in the bid to support the future of the sportspersons”.

Saying that students’ involvement in sports is the basis of prosperity, success and building of society, he said new ideas and innovation would also be developed among the students with their continuous involvement in sports.

President Poudel stressed the need for the government and stakeholders to pay adequate attention to the development of sports by employing with necessary training and encouragement to the sportspersons.

Also speaking on the occasion, Minister for Youths and Sports Biraj Bhakta Shrestha said there was enthusiastic participation in the tournament, claiming that reforms have been made in the sports sector, including Dasharath stadium after he assumed the ministerial responsibility.

President Paudel illuminated the lamp with Para Taekwondo Olympian Palesha Gobardhan handing over the Olympian torch.

The Olympian torch was taken around the track before lighting the lamp. Olympians Debu Thapa, Kamal Bahadur Adhikari and Hari Rimal also participated in the occasion.

It may be noted that Palesha secured a place in the Paris Para Olympics by winning the gold medal in the women’s under-57 kg category in the K-44 category at the Asian Qualifiers held in China.

Palesha is the first and only Nepali athlete to win a medal at the Asian Para Games.