Sunkoshi wins president’s running shield

By Sher Bahadur Rai,Okhaldhunga, Apr. 18: Sunkoshi Rural Municipality has claimed the title of Okhaldhunga District’s President’s Running Shield in the district-level competition held in Dalidanda, Champadevi Rural Municipality.

Sunkoshi emerged victorious, securing a total of 18 medals, including eight gold, seven silver, and three bronze. This marks a significant improvement for the municipality, which finished fourth in last year’s competition.

Rural Municipality Chairman Kamal Tamang expressed pride in the achievement, stating that Sunkoshi is becoming a leader in both the sports and education sectors within the district. The rural municipality also topped last year’s School Leaving Certificate (SEE) results.

Chairman Tamang further mentioned that each of the 13 secondary schools in Sunkoshi had been allocated Rs 100,000 for the President’s Running Shield competition, an initiative he announced last year.

The rural municipality also made strategic preparations for the district-level competition, arranging for coaches 15 days prior to the event, according to Bivek Tamang, Head of the Education and Youth Sports Section.

Chishankhugadhi Rural Municipality secured second place in the competition, winning a total of nine medals, including seven gold and two silver. Manebhanjyang Rural Municipality finished third with 10 medals, including six gold, one silver, and three bronze, as reported by District Sports Development Committee Chairman Prabin Shrestha. Last year’s winners, Siddhicharan Municipality, came fourth this time, with 18 medals, including three gold, six silver, and nine bronze.

Likhu Rural Municipality took fifth place, winning 10 medals, including three gold, two silver, and five bronze, while Molung Rural Municipality placed sixth with two gold, four silver, and six bronze medals. Khijidemba Rural Municipality finished seventh with one gold, four silver, and three bronze.

Champadevi Rural Municipality, which organised and managed the competition, failed to win a single gold medal. It finished eighth among the district’s eight local levels, winning four silver and one bronze medal.

Chairman Shrestha confirmed that, since last year, it has been agreed to rotate the hosting of the competition among various local levels of the district. 

Next year’s President’s Running Shield competition will be held either in Khijidemba or Manebhanjyang Rural Municipality, with the final decision on the host still to be made, according to Shrestha.