TAC defend National Games crown

Nepalgunj, April 24

Tribhuvan Army Club claimed the overall championship of the eight National Games as departmental sides dominated the national sporting extravaganza hosted by Province-5.

The departmental side bagged 140 gold, 82 silver and 67 bronze medals to finish first in the championship that featured 35 sports disciplines. TAC had finished first in the previous edition of the Games held in Eastern Region with 142 gold, 59 silver, 42 bronze medals, added to defend the overall title.

Nepal Police Club finished a distant second with 62 gold, 49 silver and 46 bronze medals, while another departmental side Nepal APF Club came third with 54 gold, 69 silver and 80 bronze medals. Out of the total 333 gold medals, three departmental sides claimed 253. Province-3 were the next best side with 22 gold medals.

A total of 5,211 athletes, including 2,825 men and 2,386 women, from 11 teams — one each from seven provinces, Tribhuvan Army Club, Nepal APF Club, Nepal Police Club and Non-Resident Nepali Association — took part in the Games that offered 335 gold, 334 silver and 480 bronze medals. Each gold medal winner earned Rs 15,000, while the winners in team event got Rs 7,000.

The competition began on April 10 and 15 sports disciplines had already completed their tournaments before the opening ceremony on April 18.

President Bidhya Devi Bhandari declared Games open amidst the glittering opening ceremony, while Vice-President Nanda Bahadur Pun was the chief guest in the closing ceremony held at the Nepalgunj Stadium.

Meanwhile, the NSC handed over the National Games flag to Gandaki Province. The sports governing body had decided to give the hosting rights of ninth National Games to Gandaki before the closing ceremony of the seventh edition in Biratnagar and the board meeting endorsed the decision and decided to hold the Games from March 4-11, 2021.

Cricket

Nepal APF Club won the men’s section gold medal in the National Cricket Tournament at the proposed Kohalpur International Stadium. APF defeated Nepal Police Club by 32 runs in the final. Batting first, APF posted 110-8 in 20 overs before restricting the NPC to 78-9. On Tuesday, Nepal APF Club won the women’s section title.

Volleyball

Nepal Police Club and Nepal APF Club won the titles of the National Volleyball Tournament at the Sukra Stadium in Khajura.

NPC defeated Tribhuvan Army Club 25-18, 23-25, 25-20, 25-18 in the men’s section final. In women’s section final, APF registered a 25-11, 25-13, 25-19 victory over Province-3.

APF and NPC finished third in men and women sections respectively.

Players and officials of Tribhuvan Army Club takes group photo with gold medals durign the 8th National Games at Nepalgunj Stadium in Nepalgunj on Wednesday. Photo: Udipt Singh Chhetry/ THT

Football

Tribhuvan Army Club and Nepal APF Club won the football titles on the final day of the eighth National Games. TAC defeated Nepal Police Club 1-0 in the men’s section final. Bikash Tamang scored the solitary goal in the 45th minute of the match that was played before the closing ceremony. In women’s section, APF defeated TAC 4-3 in tie-breaker after a goalless draw.