Tandan, a former international player and the president of Nepal Weightlifting Association, will bear all the expenses of the tournament. According to Samasuddin Siddiqui, the coordinator of the tournament preparation committee, the estimated cost of the tournament is about Rs 3.5 million. [break]
The championship being participated by 60 players from South Asian countries including host Nepal, India, Pakistan, Bangladesh, Sri Lanka and Afghanistan was formally inaugurated by Minister for Youth and Sports Kamala Rokka on Thursday. Weightlifters will vie for eight gold medals on Friday.
Tandan has personally spent millions of rupees for the development of sports in Nepal.
In 1998 Tandan had spent about Rs 4.5 million to conduct the Fourth National Games in Nepalgunj when there was uncertainty over whether the games would be held. Tandan was then coordinator of the Mid-western Sports Development Committee and the National Games was held after 15 years.
Two years earlier also Tandan had spent Rs 500,000 from his own fund to organize the National Weightlifting Championship.
Tandan this time has expected to raise 60 percent of the expenses from different agencies. "Different donors and National Sports Council have assured of providing financial assistance this time around which is likely to cover 60 percent of the expenses. However, none of the donors have kept their words."
Regarding organizing the South Asian weightlifting meet for the first time, Tandan said, "Though there are some talented players in the region none of the countries has so far started the tournament at the regional level. Thus I took an initiative."
During the inauguration ceremony, Minister for Youth and Sports Kamala Rokka assured to provide Rs 100,000 to former weightlifter and coach Surendra Hamal who is undergoing treatment for intestine cancer in Lucknow, India.
Meanwhile, South Asian Weightlifting Association was formed on Thursday under the coordination of Bijendra Prasad Baisya of India. Tandan and Partha Sarathi Sen Gupta of Nepal were nominated vice-president and general secretary of the association, respectively.
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