Kantipur Media Group is organising ‘Max Sports Summit 2026’, bringing together policymakers, sports administrators, players, franchise operators, investors and other stakeholders to discuss the future of Nepali sports.

Australian cricket star David Warner, a former international player now representing Kathmandu Gorkhas, will be among the prominent participants, alongside several Nepali and international sporting figures at the event to be held on Friday at Royal Tulip Kathmandu.

Sponsored principally by Xtreme Energy Drink, the event is being organised in collaboration with TCM Sports Marketing Private Limited. Nepal College of Information Technology is the education partner, while Ved International Education Consultancy and Skyline Higher Education Australia are the study-abroad partners.

The summit aims to address the growing importance of sports in Nepal and explore ways to build a more organised, sustainable and internationally competitive sporting system. Discussions will focus on institutional governance and infrastructure development for sports, players’ welfare, private investment and the expansion of professional leagues.

There will be three panel discussions. The first, titled ‘Propelling Nepal’s Sports Economic Future’, will examine how public enthusiasm for sports can be converted into a sustainable economy through investment, sponsorship, broadcasting and commercial partnerships.

The panelists will include Lokesh Sharma, founder and managing director of TCM Sports Marketing; Paras Khadka, secretary of the Cricket Association of Nepal; Sachin Dhakal, owner of FC Chitwan; Abhimanyu Golchha, director of Golchha Group; and Paras Luniya, owner of Biratnagar Kings. Journalist Somesh Barma will moderate the discussion.

Sharma said Nepal is emerging as a force in cricket, with the Nepal Premier League demonstrating how public enthusiasm could attract greater corporate interest and expand broadcasting opportunities.

“Watching the NPL’s journey closely, we have seen how people’s passion for the game is translating into growing corporate confidence, wider broadcasting reach and better experiences for audiences,” said Sharma.

The league is strengthening the foundations of Nepali cricket and providing young players with a competitive platform to become future stars, Sharma observed, adding that the challenge was to turn current attention into long-term partnerships, sustained investment and stories that could take Nepali sports to wider audiences.

The second session, ‘Cornerstone of the Game’, will focus on players’ experiences, including training, coaching, mental health, financial pressures and the support they need to perform.

National cricketer Karan KC, national Kabaddi player Manmati Bista, national volleyball player Niruta Thagunna and former footballer Bikram Lama are panelists in the discussion moderated by Kantipur Max’s Abhinav Joshi.

The third panel, ‘Blueprint for Sports Governance’, will examine policy, accountability, infrastructure and practical approaches to improving governance in sports.

National Sports Council member Monalisa Khambu, Malaysia Cricket chief operating officer Binod Das, former council member-secretary Tankalal Ghising and Nepal Volleyball Association president Jitendra Bahadur Chand will share their perspectives in the session moderated by Kantipur Television sports journalist Binayjyoti Sapkota.

The event will also feature a special conversation titled ‘Warner: The Bull’, in which the Australian will discuss his cricketing journey, franchise cricket and Nepal’s sporting prospects with Anup Kaphle, Group Editorial Director of Kantipur Media Group.

Organisers say the summit seeks practical recommendations on governance, athlete development, public-private partnerships and new investment. One of the event’s aims is to provide a platform for policymakers, sports associations, businesses and players to work towards sustainable development of Nepali sports as an industry.