Time alone will tell it. The last few years have given Nepali sports hardly anything to cheer about. To hope that everything will go well in 2010 is quite an optimistic but desirable view. The year could pave the way for good things to happen in the sports arena that has seen a slump even before the economic crisis and political instability. [break] It would not be unrealistic to hope for good things this year.
2010 is a year of regional extravaganza: 11th South Asian Games, January 29 to February 8, is already at the doors while 16th Asian Games (November 12-27) is a little away.
Bangladesh will host the sub-continental multi-sport event, which will be crucial for Nepali sports, largely because it’s the highest level of competition where the Himalayan nation can expect good spot on the medals tally.
More hopes can be pinned on taekwondo and karate in which our players can dominate. Since winning 28 out of 32 gold medals in Kathmandu in 1999, Nepal had lost some ground in the years then after but hopes are always high.
Deepak Bista, the three-time gold medalist, will be the man to lead the hopes. Bista, after being qualified for Beijing Olympics, believes he could become the first Nepali to win four golds.
The SAG will also provide a redemption chance to Rajendra Bhandari, the disgraced athlete who lost two gold medals for testing positive for drugs in Sri Lanka. He would compete in the marathon, for the first time in international arena, and attempt to earn his lost glory.
Weightlifting and athletics; and most probably in archery, judo, boxing, wrestling and wu-shu can also earn a few medals for Nepal.
Nepal’s hopes for a good show in the Asian Games to be held in China, however, are low.. So far, other than winning a few odd bronze and a silver medals, Asiad has meant nothing more than participation for Nepal. Let’s wait for wild-card entries to talk more about it.
Both the Games will provide Nepal a platform to judge, not to win, the footballing and cricketing talents. Football has always been in the Games, and though Nepal had once won the SAG gold in football, Nepal’s hopes for the same this year are slim for a few reasons including the lack of competitive domestic events.
Cricket is included for the first time in both SAG and ASIAD. Since India, Pakistan, Sri Lanka and Bangladesh will be competing for the medals, Nepal will only be hoping to gain experience of playing against them and maybe an upset victory.
However, for both football and cricket, 2010 is crucial.
For football, it’s crucial because the national league, which has not been held for a couple of years due to conflict between All Nepal Football Association (ANFA) and clubs, will resume. The National League is important for two reasons: first it gives players opportunity to showcase, practice and improve their games, and second, it also provides financial support to clubs and players. It’s a year for football to recreate the foundation and passion and focus on development.
Early in the year, the future of cricket will be somewhat determined when Nepal hosts ICC World Cricket League Division 5 (February 20-30).
Reaching the final of the event will ensure Nepal’s progress to Div 4, which is also scheduled to be held in 2010, and possibly to Div 3 and the World Cup 2015 qualifiers. Since long ago, we have been telling us that cricket is the only big sports in which Nepal can earn a name in global competitions; but despite dreaming it for long, we have not achieved anything big to that effect so far.
If 2010 is lucky enough, being finalists in Div 5, and then in Div 4, will erase all bad memories and reaching the final of the ACC Trophy Elite (March 31-April 9), will give us an opportunity to play One-Day Internationals (ODIs).
Kathmandu will host the inaugural edition of the ACC U-16 Elite Cup (March 8-18). In ACC U-19 Women’s Championship, Nepal will try to defend its title.
The year is crucial also for cricket officials as Kathmandu is hosting two international events and one of which is directly organized by International Cricket Council (ICC). Good hosting will give Nepal more such opportunities which also mean more infrastructure development.
To sum up, Year 2010 will be an important year for Nepali sports and hopefully it will turn into a year that fulfils the dreams.
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