Army competes in some events

Although army called back its players from athletics and badminton on Tuesday morning, Mahato and other players participated in swimming, boxing, weightlifting and judo events while the army top brass was discussing whether to pull out of the Games.

Although it is not clear whether the army will participate in the games from Wednesday, an army official confirmed that they would not be competing in the events participated by Maoist People’s Liberation Army (PLA) Sports Club. PLA´s inclusion in the event was decided only on Monday night after the inauguration ceremony under written instructions from Prime Minister Pushpa Kamal Dahal.

Nepal Army´s Bhupendra Bakunche (in red) competes against Dinesh Shrestha of Nepal Police in the 57 kg featherweight boxing during the 5th National Games on Tuesday.

Dipesh Shrestha

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"The news about army pulling out of the Games is baseless," Jeevan Ram Shrestha, the chairman of Executive Committee of the Games said at a press conference late Tuesday evening. "They are still in the Games and participated in some events."

Shrestha said neither NSC nor any sports association had been officially informed about the non-participation of the army.

He said that four events of athletics scheduled for Tuesday morning were postponed for a day due to ´parching sun´. Nepal Army players left the Dasharath Stadium after men´s and women´s events of 1500 m race. Armymen had finished first and second in men´s event but did not stay for the medal ceremony.

Meanwhile, Lt Col Bhai Krishna Khatri told myrepublica.com that they would not be participating in the events in which PLA Sports Club would be playing. He also indicated toward overall non-participation by the army saying that it would be ´meaningless´ to participate in other events.

The April 6-12 National Games was inaugurated Monday. The PLA Nepal Sports Club is taking part in football (men), volleyball (women and men), karate, athletics and taekwondo.