SATV Kathmandu, July 11: Prime Minister KP Sharma Oli on Thursday inaugurated Nepal’s first High Performance Sports Training Centre and Sports Science and Research Center. The facility is located at the International Sports Complex in Satdobato, Lalitpur.
The centre, established by the National Sports Council (NSC), is designed to support athletes with world-class training. Spread across 7,578 square feet, it can accommodate over 100 athletes training at once. A modern gym hall equipped with advanced fitness equipment is a key feature.
To assess athletes’ physical capabilities and body composition, a dedicated Sports Science and Research Centre has also been set up. The facility includes 31 state-of-the-art pieces of equipment imported from the United States, the United Kingdom, Germany, and South Korea. Some notable equipment includes the X-Body machine, Force Frame, SVT machine, VO₂ Max machine, Lactic Acid Analyzer, EMG system, and Timing Gate system.
Officials believe these technologies will help improve individual performance and identify physical challenges athletes may face.
During the event, PM Oli praised Nepali athletes for achieving international recognition despite limited resources. He expressed confidence that the new facility would boost their capabilities and bring further success.
Oli urged the full use of the centre, stating that it could help turn sports into professional ventures.
He also shared plans to build a new stadium in Suryabinayak, Bhaktapur, with a capacity of 50,000 spectators. Referring to his visit to Real Madrid’s stadium in Spain, he highlighted the limited size of Dasharath Stadium.
He assured that the stadium under construction in Kirtipur would be expanded in future phases.
Hold National Games and NPL
Oli stressed the importance of moving forward with the "Mission 2026" campaign and called for strong preparation.
He instructed NSC to ensure that the 10th National Games are held as scheduled in Birendranagar, Surkhet, from November 2–9. He warned that further delays would be a national embarrassment.
He also affirmed that the second edition of the Nepal Premier League (NPL) should go ahead. “The NPL is a symbol of national pride,” he said, adding that it deserves more attention and must be played.
The NPL-2 has been facing uncertainty after an investigation into irregularities by the Ministry of Youth and Sports led to a temporary halt in preparations.
Oli emphasized that once in office, politicians should focus on their responsibilities. “Politics must not interfere with sports development,” he stated.
Similarly, Youth and Sports Minister Tejulal Chaudhary, who also chairs NSC, said athletes across all provinces would benefit from the centre. NSC Vice President Dhruva Acharya described athletes as vital to national growth and health.
Member Secretary Tankalal Ghising declared Nepal’s entry into a new era of sports science, saying the centre could promote national unity and happiness through sports.
The event was attended by Karnali Province Finance Minister Rajiv Bikram Shah, NSC members, sports federation officials, Olympians, Mission 2026 representatives, and national and international athletes.
