9th National Games: Women's cricket to kick off tomorrow

The 9th National Games, 2079 will formally begin on October 14. But, matches under the tournament will begin in Pokhara from tomorrow (October 9). Under it, women's cricket match will take place in the Pokhara Stadium on Sunday, said the Kaski District Cricket Association Chair Sanjaya Kanta Sigdel. Hosts Gandaki Province and Madhes Province will meet in the opening match.

Similarly, Sudurpaschim Province and Bagmati Province are playing the second match on the same day. Categorized into two groups, nine teams participated in the match. Gandaki Province, APF Club, Madhes Province, Sudurpaschim Province, and Bagmati Province are placed in Group 'A', while Nepal Police, Karnali Province, Province 1, and Lumbini Province are in Group 'B'.

The tournament will be formally inaugurated on October 14, and it is scheduled to take place in different eight districts of Gandaki Province and Pokhara on October 14-20.

Meanwhile, in view of the tournament nearing, preparations have been intensified, said Laxman Yogi, chief of the office of the Western Regional Sports Development Committee. However, rain for some days affected it, he added. Under preparations, repairing, tidying up, and painting the sports grounds are underway, he said.

A total of 11 teams including from seven provinces each, three departmental ones, and a Non-Resident Nepali Association have participated in the tournament. Out of 36 games, 35 will take place in Gandaki Province, and shooting will be organized in Kathmandu due to a lack of infrastructure, said the organizer.

Most of the matches will be organized in Pokhara. Inauguration and conclusion of the tournament will also take place in Pokhara, said Rajesh Gurung, member of the National Sports Council. The total 4,335 athletes will compete for a total of 1,384 medals (392 gold medals, 392 silver, and 600 bronze).

The participating athletes include 702 from Gandaki Province, 673 from Nepal Army, 522 from APF Club, 488 from Nepal Police, 436 from Sudurpaschim Province, 430 from Bagmati Province, 371 from Province 1, 262 from Madhes Province, 197 from Karnali Province, 131 from NRNA and 123 from Lumbini Province.

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