PM bids farewell to Asiad squad

KATHMANDU, Nov 8: Prime Minister Madhav Kumar Nepal on Monday bade farewell and wished success of Nepali team participating in the 16th Asian Games (Asiad) to be held in Guangzhou, China, from November 12-27 at his official residence in Baluwatar.



Prime Minister Nepal offered garland to the players, officials and other members accompanying the team and wished for their success in the Asiad. [break]



Addressing the program, PM Nepal said that the success of any player in Asiad could be a matter of national pride and said that this type of program would help boost the confidence level of the players.



"The success of players in the Asiad is associated with the dignity of nation and players should play keeping the nation in the center,” PM Nepal said, adding, "I wish Nepali team bring more and more medals."



He also directed the players and officials to maintain discipline and follow norms. "On behalf of the Government of Nepal, I wish all the players to exhibit the skills you have learnt properly and achieve success," he said.



Citing a recent felicitation program of women cricketers who won the title of ACC U-19 Women´s Cricket Championship a couple of months ago in Singapore, PM Nepal said he would wait for an opportunity to honor Asiad players as well after their return from Guangzhou.



Meanwhile, he also bemoaned what he said ´unfair politics´ of the country and said, "If the national politics was sound, sports sector would have been better."

Minister for Youth and Sports Ganesh Tiwari Nepali will head the team for the Asiad.



Altogether 140 players from 20 different sports are competing in Asiad.



However, players and officials from 13 events were present on the occasion. Players and officials from athletics, archery, badminton, women cricket, judo, soft tennis, shooting, taekwondo, table tennis and wrestling were present during the farewell program. Likewise, officials of wushu, karate, boxing and weightlifting were also present.



Earlier, Minister for Youth and Sports Nepali said the team was leaving with the promise of gaining more achievement.



Meanwhile, a team consisting of high-level officials of National Sports Council and Nepal Olympic Committee left for Guangzhou, China on Monday.

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