BIRATNAGAR – When the 16th President Running Shield was underway at the Dasharath Stadium in Kathmandu, the heartbeats of the officials from the Sports Development Board of Koshi Province were racing. The reason was a forgettable chapter of history. In the previous year’s 15th edition, Koshi Province had collapsed to the very bottom, finishing seventh among the seven provinces. Returning home with the “stigma” of being a “gold-less” province, safeguarding their prestige was the ultimate challenge for both players and officials.

However, in this year’s tournament held on the track and in the covered hall from June 3 to 5, Koshi has not only returned to its rhythm but has successfully channeled fresh hope into provincial sports by charting an upward trajectory on the medal tally. Winning a total of 28 medals—including 4 gold, 7 silver, and 17 bronze—Koshi has climbed to the fifth position. This is not merely an improvement on the scoreboard; it is a resounding “comeback” after pulling through the disappointment of the previous year.

Martial Arts as the backbone

The backbone of Koshi’s success this time was martial arts, specifically Karate. Koshi’s performance in this discipline earned praise at the national level. Securing a total of nine medals—three gold, three silver, and three bronze each—Koshi successfully ranked first among all seven provinces in Karate.

Koshi Province athletes and coaches during the opening ceremony of the 16th President Running Shield Tournament.

Koshi achieved a absolute “clean sweep” in the female categories of Karate. The pride of Koshi was distinct at the stadium as Hira Ale Magar clinched gold in the 45 kg weight category, Pranisha Nepal in the 50 kg, and Sashika Ale Magar in the 55 kg category. In Taekwondo, another martial arts discipline, Yumi Rai secured one more gold, bringing Koshi’s total gold tally to four. In the men’s Karate category, Pramod Rai added to the team’s enthusiasm by winning 2 silver medals, while Niroj Thapa, Manas Thapa, and Pushparaj Yokpangden secured bronze medals.

Learning lessons and implementing changes

Why did Koshi Province’s performance plummet last year? This had been a subject of intense debate in sports circles. Serious questions were raised regarding the previous leadership and selection process of the Provincial Sports Development Board. During the tenure of the then Member Secretary Parshuram Basnet, player selections could not even be conducted in three of the province’s districts, forcing talented athletes to stay home.

After the new Member Secretary, Biplav Ghosh, assumed leadership, the board initiated preparations giving adequate time for the tournament. The selection process was completed transparently, incorporating all 14 districts to send the top 115 players filtered from 1,700 athletes to the central tournament.

Member Secretary Ghosh shares, “We learned from past mistakes. The hard work of the players and the tight management of the board paid off. This success has injected new enthusiasm into the sports of Koshi Province.”

Rewards boost morale

The Koshi Province government has also shown great generosity this time to boost the morale of the players. Chief Minister Hikmat Kumar Karki had announced cash rewards prior to the team’s departure for the tournament. In accordance with this, the government is presenting a total cash prize of Rs 1.775 million to the 28 medal-winning athletes.

The government’s announcement to award Rs 100,000 to gold medalists, Rs 75,000 to silver medalists, and Rs 50,000 to bronze medalists has ignited immense excitement among the athletes. Sports professionals state that this investment will provide great energy to the youth who intend to pursue sports as a career in the days to come.

Incomplete preparations and challenges

Despite the improved results, complaints have emerged from the technical sector that Koshi’s preparations were still insufficient. According to Prabin Kumar Karki, President of the Nepal International Taekwondo Federation, the players did not get adequate training time. “The players selected from the 14 districts did not get to stay in a proper closed camp,” Karki notes. “They were forced to travel to Kathmandu overnight immediately after selection. Had they been able to practice properly for just a few weeks, the number of medals would have certainly been higher.”

Stating that the lack of technical human resources is also causing problems, Ram Limbu, Secretary of the Nepal Karate Federation Koshi, suggests that the province must recruit its own coaches. “Currently, all the coaches belong to the National Sports Council. The province must employ its own coaches and technical staff right from the local level,” he adds. “The government should make targeted investments in sports where there is a higher probability of winning medals.”

A test on home soil

The 17th edition of the tournament is scheduled to be hosted right in Koshi Province. Facing the competition on home ground from March 3 to March 6, 2027, Koshi faces both the pressure and the opportunity to climb from fifth place into the top three.

Preparations for the 17th President Running Shield Tournament.

Bagmati Province has maintained its dominance with 22 gold medals, while Sudurpashchim and Lumbini claim the second and third positions with 19 and 12 gold medals respectively. Gandaki stands fourth with 5 gold medals. In the 17th edition, Koshi aims to surpass Gandaki and move ahead.

“This improvement seen in Koshi Province’s sports is a welcoming sign. Shaking off the bitter history of zero gold medals and making a comeback with four golds proves that if there is right leadership, transparent selection, and adequate investment, the players can deliver results,” said Prabin Kumar Karki, President of the Nepal International Taekwondo Federation. “However, the upcoming journey must not be limited to Karate and Taekwondo alone. It is imperative for Koshi to establish its grip on sports like Taekwondo, Athletics, Volleyball, Kabaddi, and Wushu as well.”