The fate of the much-awaited South Asian Games 2019 has been officially sealed with the election of the new SAG committee president, earlier today (14th September).
Jeevan Ram Shrestha has been re-elected as the President of the Nepal Olympic Committee (NOC) after beating rival Umesh Lal Shrestha by seven votes at the Elective General Assembly.
The Games, which were originally scheduled to take place in March this year, were postponed to the 1st of December with many internal revolts. The main concern being a legal dispute of authority of the Nepal Olympic Committee (NOC).
Read More: Sri Lanka’s SAG 2019 fate at stake after controversial vote
Justice Tanka Bahadur Moktan from the Supreme Court of Nepal issued an interim order against the NOC while hearing a petition filed by Kamal Bahadur Chitrakar, a member of the Olympic committee led by Rukma Shamsher.
Chitrakar had moved the apex court, challenging the authority of the committee led by Jeevanram Shrestha, claiming that that committee was illegal. The Supreme Court thereby summoned the Shrestha-led committee and ordered it not to conduct elections until the case was decided.
After the courts hearing date on the 8th of September, the general election was successfully held in Lalitpur with Shrestha securing a second four-year term at the helm of the NOC after claiming 17 of the 27 votes.
Read More: 3 National Records for Sugandi, Vidusha and Nimali
Officials from the NOC hope the outcome of the election, watched by representatives of the International Olympic Committee (IOC) and Olympic Council of Asia, will end the power-struggle within the organization.
According to reports in Nepal, Shrestha promised to effectively take forward the NOC’s autonomy and claimed he would ensure the smooth running of the upcoming South Asian Games in the country.
The South Asian Games will be held from the 1st to the 10th of December 2019 in Kathmandu, Nepal. A Sri Lankan contingent of over 600 athletes are currently getting into shape through domestic tournaments and training camps, to challenge their greatest rivals, India at this years’ competition.
Stay logged on for more news and updates on the Sri Lankan contingent’s preparations for the Games!
>>Click here for more Athletics News<<
.){kind=link}