The NSC decision was criticized by athletes and authorities of non-contact games like badminton, tennis and volleyball. Following the criticism, NSC softened the provision for non-contact games.[break]
"Though NSC softened the rules for non-contact games, long distance run was not among them," said athletics chief-coach Sushil Narsingh Rana. "However, taking advantage of our weak monitoring some underage athletes have taken part in long distance races of the Sixth National Games," he added.
Shakuntala Thakulla claimed bronze medal in women´s 10000 m race. Thakulla from remote Darchula district of Far Western Region is just 13 years old and studies in class seven.
One of Thakulla´s competitors was 12 years old Nirmala Khatri from Baglung district of Western Region. Khatri finished the 10000 m in the fifth position on Tuesday. Khatri also studies in class seven. Both of them competed in the women´s 5000 m race as well, but failed to finish on the victory stand.
When 17 years old Bishwa Rupa Budha from Mid Western Region won gold medals in both events, Thakulla and Khatri stole the limelight at the Dhangadhi Stadium.
Thakulla completed 10000 m in 43 minutes 32 seconds while Khatri finished it in 44 minutes 22.1 seconds. Both tiny girls were small wonders for many coaches and other athletes.
"We may cheer these kind of results for now, but in the long run it will harm athletes," said Rana. "Underage athletes do not feel fatigue while running, but later it will harm their bones," he added.
"We should have monitoring system in place to prevent underage athletes from running in long distances in future. Such athletes should be groomed for future by providing proper trainings," said Rana.
However, Rana agreed that athletes of non-contact games like gymnastics, swimming, badminton could have benifitted from the participation of underage players.
Shalina Shrestha, 13, of New Diamond School played for Central Region in women´s volleyball. She studies in class eight. "My teacher Kumar Rai inspired me to play volleyball and I´m trying to do my best," said Shrestha.
Shalina Shrestha´s regional coach is her namesake. "She is doing well here. She is like a small wonder for audiences. Her small physique sometimes turns as disadvantage, but she could be a good player in future," said coach Shalina.
Aslesha Lissanevitch, under-16 tennis star, also won gold medals in tennis during the Sixth National Games. She has already represented the country in the Asian Games in 2010.
As the debate on age bar is still going on, athletics coaches have said that the age-bar provision should vary as international practices and rule books guide to the particular game.
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