Pokhara, 16 February | The persistent delays and repeated postponements of the 10th National Games, originally slated to be held in Karnali Province, have pushed Nepali sports into a state of profound crisis. The lack of a stable sporting calendar has forced talented athletes like Sujan Chokhal, a key member of the Gandaki volleyball team, to seek employment in Japan. Chokhal was selected during a provincial tournament held in Gorkha nearly seven months before the initially proposed date in late 2024. However, as the games failed to materialize, his teammate Hari Pandey announced his retirement, highlighting a tragic trend of talent drain caused by administrative incompetence and political instability.
The management of the 10th National Games has been marred by shifting dates and political vacuum. Most recently, Minister Bablu Gupta, representing the ‘Gen-Z’ generation, had fixed the dates for February 2026. However, his abrupt resignation to contest in the upcoming elections left the Ministry of Youth and Sports without leadership, currently placing it under the direct oversight of Prime Minister Sushila Karki. Despite the formation of various sub-committees and the public unveiling of the logo and mascot, the actual event remains in limbo. National Sports Council (NSC) Member Secretary Ram Charitra Mehata cited procurement delays and a lack of cooperation from the Karnali provincial government as primary reasons for the failure to meet the latest deadline.
This uncertainty has demoralized athletes across all provinces. In Sudurpashchim, officials admit they have lost track of many athletes who were selected over a year ago. Infrastructure deficits and funding shortages continue to plague the preparations, while political friction between different factions within the NSC has further stalled progress. National champions like tennis player Pradip Khadka express deep frustration, fearing that their prime years are being wasted waiting for a tournament that may never happen. As the government remains silent on an official cancellation or a concrete new date, the future of the 10th National Games remains a symbolic representation of the systemic neglect facing the Nepali sports sector.
