The PLA has demanded inclusion of its teams in the games, scheduled to begin Monday.
However, member secretary of the National Sports Council (NSC) Jivan Ram Shrestha expresses his inability to include the PLA teams.
“The issue of including PLA teams in the national games must be settled at the political level,” Shrestha said, adding, “I find technical constraints to include the PLA teams at the last minute.”
He said the PLA had lodged an application demanding its participation in the games some ten days ago. He then forwarded the application to the Ministry of Youth and Sports for necessary action.
“But I haven’t yet received any response from the ministry over the issue,” member secretary Shrestha said.
The NSC’s argument that it feels difficulty in including the PLA teams in the national games sounds much convincing as all teams for various events are selected through regional competitions. The rules require that the teams, aspiring to participate in the national games, must have played regional-level games.
The Nepal Army (NA), Armed Police Force (APF) and Nepal Police (NP), besides the teams selected by NSC also participate in the national games.
The NSC receives updates from NA, APF and NP regarding their selection process right from the beginning.
A member at the NSC said the Council has already received details of teams from the NA, APF and the NP for the national games. But it hasn’t yet received any information from the PLA over selection process and the teams.
“How can we include PLA as a separate team when we don’t know whether or not their players meet the national standards for the games,” said the member, requesting to remain unnamed.
However, PLA commander Nanda Kishor Pun says the National Games can’t proceed without the participation of the PLA.
“We have already finalized our teams for almost all events. How can the National Sports Council exclude us from the games,” said Pun.
He said PLA combatants will participate in all 32 events including football and volleyball.
He said the PLA teams will arrive in Kathmandu in two days. “Our teams may not be able to attend the opening ceremony but they will attend all events from Tuesday,” said PLA commander Pun.
NSC member secretary Shrestha says the games will proceed as planned. “I hope the PLA won’t obstruct such a grand sports carnival,” Shrestha said.
The game is being held after 11 years. There are around 3,200 players from eight different teams. Teams from five development regions and three security forces -- NA, APF and Nepal Police -- are participating in 32 events.
The government has allocated Rs 250 million for the Fifth National Games.
bhaskar@myrepublica.com, ghanashyam@myrepublica.com
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