Suman, Ramesh and Indrakala’s team wins cross country race

Kathmandu: The Nepali team led by Suman Kulung, Indrakala Nembang, and Ramesh Limbu has grabbed the Nepal -China International Mountain Cross Country Race Competition that ended on Saturday (November 25, 2023).

The Nepali teams stood first in the 40-km run and won the case prize of Rs 360,000.

Similarly, Nepal’s Shrebi Maharjan, Mahesh Tharu, and Basanta Tharu of Nepal came second in the same competition. The cash prize for the second position was Rs 288,000.

In the competition organized by the Chinese Embassy in Nepal, Pokhara Metropolitan City, and Nepal Tourism Board, the Nepali team Shreekas Rai, Tilak Sunuwar and Keshari Thapa Magar finished third winning Rs 216,000 as a cash prize, informed Gokarna Karki, Coordinator of the Award section.

The Chinese team came fourth in the competition taking home  Rs 144,000 cash prize. The team comprised Lin Xiaqji, Yang Chunheng, and Hou Qing.

Likewise, Nepal’s athlete Homlal Shrestha stood first in the 38-km race. He was awarded with Rs 144,000 cash prize.

Nepal’s Bed Bahadur Sunuwar came second, Tirtha Tamang third and Karan Wala finished fourth in the same competition.

The cash prize for the second position was Rs 108,000 Rs 54,000 for the third and Rs 18,000 for the fourth, Karki shared.

The Nepal China International Mountain Cross Country Competition is a joint initiative of the Embassy of China in Kathmandu, Pokhara Metropolitan City, and the Nepal Tourism Board.

Under the slogan of Race for Shared Prosperity, the event was held in four categories, including group and individual competition, happy run, and student-run. A total of 20 groups took part in the group competition category.

The competition involved a distance of 40 kilometers to be covered by running, cycling and boating.

Starting from Barahighat in Lakeside, the race involved the distance passing through Birauta, Furse Khola, Ramadi, Ulleri, Bhumdi, Lukunswarna, Lichibot to end at Barahighat.

Chief Minister of Gandaki Surendra Raj Pandey, Chinese Ambassador to Nepal Chen Song, and Mayor of Pokhara Dhanraj Acharya jointly inaugurated the event.

At the opening ceremony, Chief Minister Pandey expressed the belief that the competition would help to increase the popularity Pokhara worldwide and also contribute to the development of sports tourism.

Chinese Ambassador to Nepal Song said that such an event would make a special contribution to strengthening the age-old relationship between Nepal and China. The Nepal China Dragon Boat Festival has already been held in Pokhara, which, he said, has helped to bring more Chinese tourists to the lake city (rss).