Shrestha re-elected as NOC Prez

Kathmandu, September 14

Nepal Olympic Committee President Jeevan Ram Shrestha won the re-election by beating former vice-president Umesh Lal Shrestha in the elective general assembly today.

Photo: Skanda Gautam/THT

Jeevan Ram — President of Nepal Ski Association and Member of Parliament from Kathmandu-8 — garnered 17 votes and defeated his opponent Umesh Lal, who is the president of Nepal Hockey Association, by seven votes to become the NOC chief for the second straight time. Both of them had competed in the previous elections with Jeevan Ram winning it 16-9 four years ago.

Out of eight candidates in the post of five vice-presidents, Jyoti Rana (tennis), Chatura Nanda Rajvaidhya (table tennis), Tej Gurung (handball), Ashok Bajracharya (swimming) and Sunil Shrestha (fencing) won the elections, while Puspa Das Shrestha (shooting), Shamim Miya Ansari (wrestling) and Rajeev Shrestha (rafting) faced defeats. President of Nepal Triathlon Association, Nilendra Raj Shrestha became the Secretary General after he defeated Purendra Bikram Lakhe (karate) 15-12. President of Nepal Weightlifting Association Ratan Tandon was re-elected as Treasurer unopposed along with Pitamber Timsina (Deputy General Secretary). The National Sports Council Vice-president Timsina represented Nepal Athletics Association in the assembly.

Former Member Secretary of NSC, Keshab Kumar Bista — who tried his luck to enter the NOC representing Nepal Wushu Association — missed the chance by just one vote after he received 17 votes. Deepak Harsha Bajracharya (judo), Kumari Tulasi Thapa (kabaddi) and Ramji Bahadur Shrestha (badminton) were elected for the post of three Secretaries. Bajracharya garnered the highest vote of 22, while Thapa earned 21 and Shrestha got 18.

Likewise, Dirgha Bahadur KC (football), Prakash Shumsher Rana (taekwondo), Tashi Ghale (golf), Ramesh Shiwakoti (archery), Gopal Sundar Lal Kakshapati (cycling), Hom Dong (basketball) and Ram Awale (boxing) were elected as NOC Members. President of Nepal Volleyball Association Manoranjan Raman Sharma could earn just nine votes.

President Shrestha said the elective general assembly carried a significant importance as it ended the lone-standing controversy once and for all. “I believe the Olympic family will now move forward as a family. We had reached an agreement with Rukma Shumsher Rana and his team, albeit verbally, and we will now work towards implementing the commitments to end the controversy,” said Shrestha. The NOC had been plagued by the existence of parallel committees for more than a decade.

Shrestha also said that the election was a democratic process and his team needed support from all individuals: “Winning and losing are parts of elections and I believe everyone will forget results in a couple of days. It’s high time that we come together to take Olympic Movement to next level for the overall development of sports sector, including autonomy of national associations.”

A total of 27 representatives — one each from 27 national associations affiliated to NOC — took part in the elective general assembly. IOC and Olympic Council of Asia Relation Director General Vinod Kumar Tiwari was the observer nominated by the international bodies for the assembly, while senior advocate Lok Bhakta Rana was the convenor of election committee.

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