Khattri bags title of 'Mal' for the eighth time in traditional shot-put competition

Takam (Myagdi), Oct 24: A shot-put competition is organized every year on the occasion of Mahanawami, the ninth day of the 10 days long Dashain festival, at Takamkot of Dhaulagiri Rural Municipality in Myagdi district to select the 'Mal'.   

 
It is a traditional practice in which the youth of the rural municipality participate to win the 'prestigious' title.    
This time, 34-year-old Ashok Khattri of the Rural Municipality, Ward No. 7 won the title of Mal. Khattri is also the ward chairperson. He has created history by winning the title for the eighth time.    

Among the competitors, Khattri hurled the iron shot-put weighing 8.5 kilos the farthest and he was declared the Mal this year, said Rim Prakash Thapa, a member of the Takamkot Puja Management Committee.   

 
Altogether 18 youths from Takam and adjoining villages participated in the shot-put competition.    

The person winning the shot-put throwing competition organized at Takamkot, an important goddess shrine in west Myagdi is conferred with the locally prestigious title of Mal. Yam Pariyar of Niskot, Malika Rural Municipality-1, who had won the title in 2078 and 2079 BS, was the first runner-up this year. 

   
Khattri had won the title regularly from 2071 BS to 2077 BS. He did not participate in the competition in 2078 BS and was defeated by Yam in 2079 BS.    
Khattri said that consistent practice, physical exercise and healthy diet helped him win the title for the eighth time. (RSS)