Earlier, the Army had said that its club was pulling out because of the Army Sports Meet.[break]
"The main reason to pull out is the South Asian Sports Meet and the second reason is inclusion of teams with departmental status haphazardly ignoring the standard and norms," said Ramindra Chhetri, spokesperson of Nepal Army.
Though Chhetri did not mention the name of the PLA Club (the club of Maoist combatants), he hinted that Army is disappointed with the inclusion of PLA in the National Games for the second time.
Army had pulled out its players from events participated by PLA Club even during the Fifth National Games held three years ago and the issue had turned out to be one of the reasons to change the course of Nepali politics then. When then Prime Minister Pushpa Kamal Dahal had attempted to sack then Army Chief Rukmangad Katuwal, he had mentioned Army´s National Game pull out as one of the reasons.
NSC yet to get official information
Meanwhile, National Sports Council (NSC) Member Secretary Yuvaraj Lama said that NSC is yet to receive official information about the Army´s pull out. Lama also said that NSC has sent a letter to Nepal Army after news about the Army´s pull out was published in newspapers on Sunday.
Lama said that participating or pulling out could be an internal issue of Nepal Army, but NSC is concerned only about talented players within the Army missing a chance to become national champions.
"The Sixth National Games is the selection tournament for the 12th South Asian Games. This is clearly stated in the tournament directives. If Army pulls out, its players will miss the chance of international participation as well," said Lama.
Lama also said that NSC is not concerned about political issues and are purely concerned about games.
"If Army is pulling out because of PLA´s participation then it´s a political matter. They might have their own protocol to follow and the matter will be solved at political level. We are concerned about athletes and the games," said Lama. "NSC wants all talented players to participate in the Sixth National Games whether they are in PLA or Army," said Lama.
Lama also urged that political issues should be kept away from sports and asked army to display the spirit of sportsmanship. "Even the countries at war with each other compete in Olympics ignoring their political rivalry,” said Lama.
"International participation is NSC´s concern"
Army Spokesperson Chhetri said that the international participation is NSC´s concern not of Army. "Every player of Tribhuwan Army Club is an army man first. They are not just players. They are responsible toward the department first," said Chhetri. "But it is the responsibility of the NSC to select the best players for the international tournament,” he added.
In his bid to remind the Army´s contribution internationally, Chhetri said that the first Nepali athlete to participate at the international arena was an army man. "Army players have been participating in the international tournaments since then regularly. However, it is not the Army to decide whether its players will participate in such tournaments or not. NSC is responsible for it," said Chhetri.
NSC unveils publicity materials
Meanwhile, NSC unveiled publicity materials for the Sixth National Games. The publicity materials include posters, stickers. The Sixth National Games is scheduled to be held in Dhangadhi and Mahendranagar from February 26 to March 4.
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