National Games: Departmental teams leading in medal tally

 Kathmandu– Two hundred and fifty-four out of 1,307 medals have been decided till date for various games under the Eighth National Games underway in various districts of the State-5.

A total 254 medals, including 67 gold, 66 silver and 121 bronze, have been decided till the morning today, the National Sports Council (NSC) stated.

Two days are left for the formal opening of the Eighth National Games. However, some competitions included in the Games had been started from April 10.

The 'departmental teams' continue to dominate the medal tally seven days since the start of the competitions. The departmental teams are the teams representing Nepal Police, the Armed Police Force and the Nepal Army.

As per the latest results, Tribhuvan Army Club tops the tally winning the highest number of medals with Nepal Police in the second position and the APF Club in the third position. The Tribhuvan Army Club has so far clinched 52 medals, including 18 gold, 20 silver and 14 bronze.

Nepal Police has won 34 medals, including 13 gold, 10 silver and 11 bronze and the APF 38 medals, including 11 gold, 11 silver and 16 bronze. The Far-west State which is in the fourth position in the medals tally, has bagged 20 medals including six gold, five silver and nine bronze.

State-2 has won 11 medals including six gold, three silver and two bronze while State-3 has bagged 37 medals including five gold, eight silver and 24 bronze; State-5 has won 20 medals including four gold, five silver and 11 bronze; the Gandaki State has clinched 16 medals including two gold, three silver and 11 bronze; State-1 has won 21 medals including one gold, one silver and 19 bronze; the Non Resident Nepalis Association (NRNA) has clinched three medals including one gold, two silver and one bronze and the Karnali State has won two bronze medals.

Five thousand two hundred and eleven athletes are competing in the 35 various events of the National Games that will continue till April 24. Among the athletes, 2825 are male and 2,386 are female. Three hundred and seventy-two gold, 372 silver and 563 bronze medals are up for grabs in the Eighth National Games.

Thirty-five games including football, athletics, boxing, weight lifting, table-tennis, cricket, lawn-tennis, swimming, shooting, volleyball, taekwondo, judo, basketball, badminton, paragliding, gulf, handball, chess, body building and hockey are included in the Games. President Bidya Devi Bhandari is scheduled to inaugurate the championship amidst a grand ceremony at Nepalgunj stadium on April 18.

Seventeen games would be organised in Banke, seven in Dang, four in Rupandehi, four in Bardiya, and one each in Lalitpur, Kaski, Kapilvastu and Kathmandu districts. Men's football, boxing, volleyball, table-tennis, wushu, judo, handball, karate, hockey, shooting, gymnastics, cycling, archery, fencing, swimming, triathlon and men's cricket would be organised in Banke.

Similarly, women's football, athletics, karate, badminton, basketball, ITF Taekwondo, and women cricket would be held in Dang while body building, soft tennis, lawn tennis, taekwondo games in Rupandehi. Kabaddi, chess, kho-kho and sepak takraw games would be organsied in Bardiya while squash in Lalitpur, paragliding in Kaski, wrestling in Kapilvastu and golf in Kathmandu, according to the NSC. The NSC stated that the Games will cost Rs 438 million 551 thousand 650. ---