Tuesday 16th April 2024
Now, all eyes on the 13th South Asian Games!
Nepal’s tourism capital Pokhara is getting ready for the most-awaited sports event i.e. 13th South Asian Games.
The event to be held during December 1-10, 2019 will see a total of 662 athletes from South Asian nations competing in 8 different games.
Out of the total 27 games, 8 are scheduled to be held in Pokhara. Paragliding did not make its way due to a lack of registrations from other participating nations other than Nepal.
[LIVE UPDATES: 13th South Asian Games: Sports Events and Highlights]
In total, 401 females and 261 males from SAARC countries will be playing in 8 games, says Keshab Pathak, coordinator of SAG Pokhara Publicity Department, and a total of 172 officials are scheduled to be part of the sports event.
Maldives opted out of archery, weight lighting and triathlon events and has fielded 61 female, 26 male and 29 officials for 8 games in Pokhara. While India is participating in all except archery and cricket.
Bangladesh is participating in six games and has opted out of women football and triathlon events. Pakistan will be seen in five events other than women football, women cricket and triathlon.
Sri Lanka is expected in all the eight games, while Bhutan opted out of handball, women football, beach volleyball and triathlon.
Eagerly waiting for the most exciting sports events of the South Asian Games 2019, then hurry up to secure your spot at the stadiums.
The tickets are available online in eSewa portal: sag.esewa.com.np
One can book online and take a print of their ticket to get it verified in real-time at the venue.
Those holding eSewa account can purchase directly online, while others can visit nearby eSewa centers in various parts of the Kathmandu Valley.
Meanwhile, advanced booking is available for Pokhara matches starting November 29, 2019 for the 8 games to be held in the city.
The tickets are priced in the ranges of NPR 100, NPR 200 and NPR 500 for different categories.
While Dasarath Stadium has got 15,900 capacity, only 14,000 tickets are being sold for management purposes, informed National Sports Council Member Secretary Ramesh Kumar Silwal.
While, Pokhara’s football stadium capacity has been increased from 10,000 to 13,000.
Nepal has planned tight security arrangements for the 13th South Asian Games. SAG committee led by Sarvendra Khanal announced odd-even vehicular movement, special task forces, command posts and more part of security for SAG 2019.
“It is a matter of national pride. Security will be of paramount importance. Things as simple as no blowing horns to designated parking and media management will be handled efficiently for smooth regulation of event,” he said in a statement.
Special vehicles and security have been arranged to carry players to the venues. The odd-even rule will apply on the opening and closing days of the sports event.
Meanwhile, the Metropolitan Traffic Division is planning its way to control sounds and disturbance caused by vehicles during the event days.
The routes from Kalimati to Thapathali will be operated one-way and vehicles are allowed only from Shahid Gate to Tripureshwor during the events.
For visitors’ joy, Nepalaya is planning a picnic experience around the TU grounds with food and other stalls.
The Finance Minister Dr Yuba Raj Khatiwada informed that the government is going to implement sports-oriented policies in the federal structure.
While #SAG2019 is just 4 days to go, the Minister said the cabinet is yet to make a concrete decision on prize money for winning athletes.
He, however, hinted that there would definitely be a sizeable increment in revenues compared to previous editions.
“Play for the country and medals, there will be sizeable increment in the prize money that government had provided in previous editions. Sports is a great medium to unite nations,” Khatiwada said in a statement.
“Players need to prepare well without being bothered about the rewards or the opposition. Athletes should be stubborn to win medals. Everything else will fall in place,” Nepal Olympic Committee president Jeevan Ram Shrestha said.
Previous versions of the sports event saw the Nepal Government’s cash prizes at Rs 300,000, 200,000 and 100,000 for the top three winners across multi-national prestigious tournaments.
In a move encouraging media for wide coverage of the SAG 2019, the government said it’s lifting the ban on video recording of SAG events.
“We understand media’s role in making an event and players commercially viable. Hence, we fall back from our previous stance to not allow video recording during the SAG. We look for enormous help from media fraternity to make the events as successful as possible,” said Shrestha.
However, the Nepali media, especially TV and internet, will be able to report only a minute of feed and live streaming is prohibited.
The Olympic Committee had banned the access to Nepali media and sold broadcasting rights to an Indian private media NK Media Ventures Pvt Ltd.
Host country Nepal will be seen in all the games comprising of 52 males, 102 females and 30 officials.
Participating Nations
| Archery | Athletics | Badminton |
| Basketball | Boxing | Cricket |
| Cycling | Fencing | Football |
| Golf | Handball | Judo |
| Kabaddi | Karate | Kho-Kho |
| Paragliding | Shooting | Squash |
| Swimming | Table tennis | Taekwondo |
| Tennis | Triathlon | Volleyball |
| Weightlifting | Wrestling | Wushu |
| Pokhara Stadium | Dasarath Stadium | Tripureswor Covered Hall |
| Gokarana Stadium | Kritipur Naya Bazar | Army Physical Fitness Center |
| Pokhara Badminton Covered Hall, | Karate Hall, Satdobato | Kathmandu Stadium |
| TU Stadium, Kritipur, Kathmandu | Lainchour TT Hall | Janakpur Covered Hall |
President Bidya Devi Bhandari is set to inaugurate the event in Kathmandu on December 01, 2019.
Prime Minister KP Oli, Head of State of the participating countries and foreign diplomats, among others will join the inaugural event. The event will see different special shows on Nepali art and culture.
