404 Medals to be Contested in 16th President Running Shield and 5th Mayor Cup

Pokhara: The preparations for the 16th President Running Shield and 5th Mayor Cup School Sports Tournament, which will be held in Pokhara from Poush 9, have reached the final stage. 

According to the information given by the organizer, Pokhara Metropolitan Sports Development Committee, in a press conference on Monday, 3,312 students will compete for a total of 404 medals in the tournament.

Deepak Bahadur Godar, the Chairman of the Pokhara Metropolitan Sports Development Committee, said that preparations have been going on for two months to make the tournament organized. 

He stated that discussions were held many times with the institutional and community schools related to this tournament. He revealed that because there were many disputes regarding birth dates in previous editions, this time they have been strict by using the ‘EMIS Code Number’ given to every student during school admission.

Somnath Bhandari, the Education Officer of the Pokhara Metropolitan Education Division, mentioned that out of nearly 260 schools in Pokhara Metropolitan City, more than 180 schools will participate in various sports. 

He expressed commitment to work with the goal of reaching 100 percent participation next year, noting that more than 70 percent of schools are confirmed to participate this year. He also pointed out that some schools have trouble participating due to the geography of Pokhara Metropolitan City.

Suraj Adhikari, the Member Secretary of the Pokhara Metropolitan Sports Development Committee, informed that the competition, which will run until Poush 11, will have contests in six categories: Wushu, Karate, Taekwondo, Volleyball, Kabaddi, and Athletics. 

According to him, 450 players from 45 schools in the boys' category and 230 players from 23 schools in the girls' category will participate in volleyball.

It is confirmed that 200 players from 20 schools in the boys' category and 110 players from 11 schools in the girls' category will participate in Kabaddi. In Athletics, 370 boys and 265 girls from a total of 84 schools will compete. In Karate, 64 boys and 70 girls from 41 schools will compete.

In Taekwondo, 48 boys and 50 girls from 26 schools will participate. In Wushu, 40 boys and 65 girls from 21 schools will compete. Member Secretary Adhikari revealed that 1,350 students from 45 schools will participate in the march past.

One player will be allowed to participate in only one category among the sports included in the tournament. The Pokhara Metropolitan Sports Development Committee has requested everyone to follow the President Running Shield Tournament Operation Guidelines regarding changed rules and other matters.

Chairman Godar informed that in Volleyball and Kabaddi, the first-place winners will receive 30,000 rupees, second-place winners will receive 20,000 rupees, and third-place winners will receive 12,000 rupees along with medals and certificates. 

For individual Athletics, the first-place winner will get 4,000, the second will get 2,500, and the third will get 1,500, while in the relay race, the winning team will receive 6,000, the second will receive 4,000, and the third will receive 2,000.

Similarly, in the march past, the first team will receive 20,000, the second will receive 15,000, the third will receive 10,000, and the consolation team will receive 5,000 rupees. He stated that proper prize arrangements have been made for players of other categories as well.

The Mayor of Pokhara Metropolitan City, Dhanraj Acharya, will inaugurate the tournament on Wednesday at the Pokhara Stadium. The opening ceremony will include a march past, cultural programs, and a Taekwondo demonstration. 

The organizers stated that a management and direction committee under the coordination of Chairman Deepak Bahadur Godar and 10 different sub-committees have been formed to make the tournament grand.