KATHMANDU, Jan 5: The South Asian Games (SAG) is one of the major events that Nepali athletes keenly wait to show their might. However, challenges have piled up for the athletes and sports associations of Nepal this time around because of the short time for preparation.
The SAG is just around the corner with hardly a month left for the regional sporting extravaganza of South Asia. This edition will be held in India from February 6-16.
The SAG is the event where Nepali volleyball teams can expect medals. But the short span for preparation could dent Nepal's hopes of success.
Nepal Volleyball Association feels lucky to get an Iranian coach, Hamid Movahedi, who has mentored Iranian men's and women's national teams.
Movahedi will look after both the men's and women's teams. However, the time allocated to prepare for the games is not enough for the experienced coach Movahedi to hope for big achievement at the SAG despite having guided the Iranian men's team to the Asian Championship title twice.
"We do not have enough time for the SAG and I have to learn about the players and make plans to execute them accordingly. If I had six months or more than that I could have brought the teams to another level," said Movahedi, who started his job from Sunday.
Another problem for Movahedi is to understand the level of Nepali volleyball.
"I watched some games of Nepali volleyball teams on the Internet and tried to learn. However, I did not get a clear picture from there. I will try to learn as quickly as I can," he added.
However, the coach's discerning eye was quick to see a bright prospect for young female players of Nepal. He was all praise for the young eves, who he believes could could learn modern volleyball.
Nepali women's volleyball team has never returned from the SAG with empty hands. The girls claimed their first ever international medal during the 8th SAG held in Kathmandu in 1999 when women's volleyball was introduced for the first time. The team had claimed bronze medal then. The team also won bronze in the 10th SAG held in Sri Lanka in 2006.
Recently, the team won silver medal in the First South Asian Invitational Volleyball Championship held in Kathmandu nearly a year ago.
Nepal has been expecting the same result from the women's team in the SAG as well.
However, the men's team has poor record in the SAG as it has never won any medal in the mega event. The team, however, claimed bronze medal in the First South Asian Invitational Men's Volleyball Championship that Nepal hosted in 2013.
With time running out, the Nepal Volleyball Association is yet to decide the assistant coaches for both the teams. Sudesh Kumar Rimal has been currently assisting Movahedi.
Meanwhile, some of the members of the associations expressed dissatisfaction over the preparations.
"Bringing in foreign coach is not a big deal. But the coach needs capable local assistants. However, the preparation has been affected as the National Sports Council (NSC) tried to appoint assistants close in relation to them than the capable ones," said Niroj Maskey, treasurer of the association.
Despite all odds, Movahedi is still positive that Nepal could see a silver lining under his guidance.
"If we get opportunities to play friendly matches against good foreign teams that will help us know about the weaknesses of the team and make plans," Movahedi said.