Special training begins for 20th Asian Games

KATHMANDU: The special training of the Nepal national team under Mission–2026 has resumed after being disrupted by the Gen Z movement.

The 20th Asian Games will be held in Japan from Sept 23 to Oct 8, 2026.

The National Sports Council (Rastriya Khelkud Parishad) had initially started special training for the Asian Games from Magh 15, 2080.

Following the 19th edition of the Asian Games, held from Aswin 6 to 21, 2079 in Hangzhou, China, regular special training programs have been conducted.

However, the recent Gen Z movement forced a pause, preventing athletes from training for five days.

On Friday, the Nepal national women’s volleyball team trained at RAKHEP’s covered hall in Tripureshwor, under the guidance of head coach Jagdish Bhatt. National Sports Council Secretary-General Tanklal Ghising also monitored the session.

RAKHEP had started the Mission–2026 training for this fiscal year from Bhadra 1, 2082. The ongoing movement had made conditions challenging, halting regular training for athletes.

The special training program involves 110 athletes across nine sports: karate, taekwondo (including para athletes), boxing, athletics, judo, women’s kabaddi, women’s volleyball, golf, and wrestling, with 44 men and 66 women participating.

The training aims to win gold and secure double-digit medals at the upcoming Asian Games.

This is the first time special training for the next Asian Games has begun immediately after the previous edition. While National Sports Council is preparing athletes in 10 sports this time, the Nepal Olympic Committee (NOC) has registered athletes in 32 sports for the Asian Games.

Last Wednesday, the NOC issued a statement confirming the registration of 434 athletes from Nepal across 32 sports.

The deadline to finalize athlete participation was last Tuesday.

The NOC completed the registration independently, without coordination with National Sports Council and the Ministry of Youth and Sports.

Due to disputes over statute amendments and elections, Nepal currently has two parallel NOCs.

The government has not recognized the NOC led by Jeevanram Shrestha. Consequently, the NOC registered athletes based on the federation’s recommendations.