GANDAKI, August 16: Gandaki Province has stepped up its preparations for the 9th National Games tournament to be held on coming October 14-20. 

Several committees formed by the National Sports Council – the key responsible agency for conducting the national games and the Gandaki Sports Council have advanced preparations for the national sports event. 

Selection of sports grounds, players and training are being carried out now. 

The NSC-constituted sports ground management sub-committee has made on-site inspection of sports infrastructure in the districts of Gandaki Province. 

Though most sports events are to be held in Pokhara and Pokhara Stadium, NSC is also mooting to host at least one event in each district of the province. This is mulled for increasing ownership of national sports in all 11 districts of the province, NSC sources said. 

Sub-Committee Vice-Chairperson Rajesh Gurung said the national tournament which is taking place in Pokhara after a hiatus of four decades has elated the province residents. 

He shared that the sports grounds would be decided by August 31. The decision to that effect would be taken by considering the status of residential facility, hospital, transport and security situation in the proposed districts having sports infrastructure. 

"We have taken stock of the sports infrastructure available in most of the districts of the province. We are making necessary preparations for finalizing the sports grounds." 

The sub-committee plans to utilize the sports infrastructures of the private sector as well, not being limited to the government-built infrastructures. 

NSC has already decided to conduct 38 games, including 36 national sports and two demonstrations. 

Men's football tournament along with men's and women's sports events of athletics, boxing, weight lifting, volleyball, badminton, wushu, handball, hockey, squash and shooting are proposed to be held in Pokhara. 

Likewise, other sports events proposed to be held in Pokhara are gymnastic, lawn tennis, soft tennis, cricket, cycling, archery, swimming, golf, physical fitness, paragliding and triathlon under men's and women's categories. 

Among other proposed sports ground are Waling of Syangja for women's football, Baglung for Taekwondo (men's and women's), Lamjung for Karante (men's and women's), Mustang for Table Tennis (men's and women's), Nawalpur for Kabaddi, Kusti and Kho-kho (men's and women's) and Gorkha for Judo and Sepakata (men's and women's), shared chief of Western Regional Sports Development Committee, Laxman Yogi. 

The duet folk song competition is to be held in Pokhara.

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