When can athletes use Nepalgunj Rangasala?

By Our Correspondent,Dhambojhi, Sept. 22: Nepalgunj Rangasala has not seen any standard sports tournaments since the city of Nepalgunj in Banke district hosted the 8th National Games in 2019. The stadium currently stands idle with no matches and practices, the result of the inability to conserve Nepalgunj Rangasala.

Nepalgunj Rangasala should have been the major hub for training and sporting events for local and provincial athletes. As the stadium has not been allowed to be used for training purposes as well, sports associations, coaches and athletes have started questioning authorities regarding when the stadium would restart hosting athletes.

The training was suspended in Nepalgunj Rangasala in 2019 citing that the stadium needs to be in proper shape for the National Games. But after the 8th National Games concluded, the training did not resume.

The stadium was closed as the authorities started the installation of a synthetic track. While it took years for the track to be installed, it was found that the track was substandard. An investigating committee was formed and the report was submitted but no action has been taken by the authorities.  

On the other hand, as the stadium was finally ready to be used for training and tournaments, the local sports stakeholders argued that the stadium charged an exorbitant rate to be used for training.

“It is not easy to utilise the stadium. They charge hefty fees. It is not friendly for the local athletes,” said Bishwajit Tiwari, a rights activist based in Nepalgunj.

On Friday, the Banke District Football Association requested the provincial sports development committee to use the ground for training purposes for the next one year.

The district association’s chairman Bhojraj Shahi, who is also a central member of the All Nepal Football Association, vice chair Anil KC and Nirmala Chand among others had submitted the request to the Mid-Western Sports Development Committee’s office chief Mahesh Chand.

“Starting from October 1, we plan to use the stadium to train U12 footballers in our region for one year. We cannot use it unless the authorities support us. It feels uneasy to have such a great infrastructure left unused for the development of sports in Nepalgunj, Banke and overall Lumbini Province,” said Shahi.