Narayangadh Jaycees is organising the Bikash Running Shield Football Tournament this year taking over the responsibility from Bikash Shield Committee. The committee has been organising the tournament since 1974 but at an irregular basis.

According to an office-bearer of Bikash Shield, they have decided to give continuity to the event by coordinating with people with new ideas. Jaycees is set to organise the tournament from October 17 to 27, said Bikash Man Shrestha, president of Narayangadh Jaycees. The event will be participated in by 10 teams including three departmental outfits—Nepal Police Club, Tribhuvan Army Club and Nepal APF Club— along with 'A' Division teams Manang Marshyangdi Club, Friends Club, Sankata Club, Jawalakhel Youth CLub and Saraswati Club. They will be joined by Chitwan XI and Makawanpur XI.

The winners will receive Rs 666,666 and the runners-up will get Rs 333,333. Last year’s Bharatpur Gold Cup was the highest cash prized football tournament here which offered Rs 600,000 to the winners. Despite having a long history, the Running Shield was held only 13 times so far.

The tournament resumed after 15 years in 2000 but again it took yet another 15 years to hold the next edition. After two years the tournament disappeared yet again and will be making a re-entry in the city this year. Narayangadh Jaycees organised the first Jaycees National Cup in 2017. "Rather than organising two football tournaments by separate groups, we opted to organise a single but big-scale tournament," said Shrestha.

Bikash Shield President Shyam Piya experienced a hard time to collect fund required to run the event. "There is competition in cash prize and many tournaments are organised having a prize of more than Rs 1 million. It is essential to have the budget to run a quality tournament in Narayangadh. So, we decided to join hands to run the event," said Piya.

"Moreover if we fail to bring quality teams to the competition spectators won’t bother to show up for the games. It was, therefore, crucial to increase the prize money to attract quality teams in the tournament. We have a long history and the partnership with Jaycees will help bring positive vibes in sports," said Piya. Chitwan District Football Association is the co-organiser of the event. The expected cost of the event is Rs 6.3 million.

Purbanchal Gold Cup set for Sept 28 to Oct 5

BIRTAMODE: Hamro Purbanchal Gold Cup Football Tournament is set to kick off on September 28 in Birtamode with eight teams confirmed to participate so far in the knockout event. The organisers, Jayon Sports Club, on Monday said a total of eight teams including four 'A' Division clubs, two district teams and two from India have already confirmed their participation. Secretary of the club Mahendra Pandey said Tribhuvan Army Club, Three Star Club, Nepal Police Club, Sankata Club, Jhapa XI and Gorkha Boys Rupandehai along with visiting Akramak Football Club of Sikkim and Moulawi Youth Club of Assam sure to take part in the competition. The champions will receive Rs 1.25 million and the runners-up will walk away with Rs 625,000. The expected cost of the tournament is Rs 8 million. (SB)