Sports

Gandaki Province brought an end to the ninth National Games on Thursday in a closing ceremony at the Pokhara Stadium.

After a sequence of cultural performances, Prime Minister Sher Bahadur Deuba, the chief guest of the ceremony, declared the Games closed. 

Addressing the ceremony, PM Deuba thanked the Ministry of Youth and Sports, Gandaki Province, athletes, security personnel, and residents of Gandaki Province for hosting the most extensive sports meet in the country.

"By holding such a big event, Nepali sports have made a proud history. But, unfortunately, a player died in a tragic accident. I want to express my heartfelt condolences to the family," Deuba said.

Without pointing out the Games' weaknesses, the PM instructed the sports administrators to improve on weak aspects in the coming days. 

The PM then handed over the flag for the 10th National Games to Karnali Province's Minister for Social Development Yagya Bahadur BC. 

A total of 6,127 athletes, including 2,713 women, competed in 396 events of 36 sports conducted in eight districts across Gandaki Province.

The last day of action on Thursday concluded with the Armed Police Force putting a dampener on the Tribhuvan Army Club with a 6-5 shoot-out victory in the men's final.  

The Army outfit otherwise had an incredible run, claiming the running National Games trophy after winning 172 gold, 110 silver and 89 bronze medals to top the medal tally for the third time in a row. They held the top spot at the seventh Games in 2016 with 225 medals, including 113 gold, and again at the eighth Games in 2019 with 289 medals, including 140 gold.

Hosts Gandaki Province finished ahead of Bagmati Province in fourth with 32 gold, 31 silver and 57 bronze medals.
 

All photos: RSS