PM inaugurates Wall Climbing Club

Post Report

KATHMANDU, Jan 27: Prime Minister Sher Bahadur Deuba inaugurated the Pasang Lhamu Wall Climbing Club in the premises of Pasang Lhamu Mountaineering Foundation (PLMF) at Shankha Park on Sunday.

The Foundation has constructed the country’s first artificial climbing wall targeting both foreigners and locals keen on learning basic ideas about mountaineering.

At the programme, PM assured the foundation that government was preparing to declare Pasang Lhamu Sherpa, the first Nepali lady to conquer the Mt. Everest, as a national personality. "PLMF’s move to construct the first artificial climbing wall will lure foreign visitors as well as local sportsmen and women."

On the occasion, a group of mountaineers demonstrated the basics of wall climbing. PM also handed over the felicitation letter to those expert mountaineers.

Mayor of Kathmandu Metropolis Keshav Sthapit also assured PLMF of his corporation’s help to contribute more on those steps which boosts Nepal as well as Kathmandu’s tourism. The Metropolis had provided the 1200-square-foot plot for the construction of PLMF Complex.

Speaking on the occasion, Ram Hari Joshi, the president of PLMF said that the collections from the club would be donated for the welfare and empowerment of women living in country’s rural areas.

Pemba Gyalje Sherpa, the club instructor, informed that the 70-degree-inclined wall with a dimension of 14m x 14m was built by specialised constructors from Iran and local technicians at the cost of some Rs. 3 million.

"The wall offers two-pronged services to clients," said Gyalje. "First, they can learn the basics of mountaineering and the second one is they will have a lot of entertainment."

Wall climbing, of late, is considered as one of the raising sports and the foundation in keeping with the trend, has planned to carry out a national level championship followed by South Asian level and then World Wall Climbing Championship within 2004.

Also present on the occasion were Minister for Women and Social Welfare Rajendra Kharel, MP Ishwor Pokharel, National Council Member Yangkila Sherpa, Patron of PLMF Daman Nath Dhungana.

Kaski set up clash with Tribhuvan Club in semis

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BHAKTAPUR, Jan 27: aski Volleyball Association came from behind to beat Bhaktapur Young Circle 20-25, 25-17, 25-21, 25-21 on Sunday to reach the semifinals of the 3rd Workers’ Cup volleyball tournament.

Also to emerge triumphant in the quarterfinals were Tribhuvan Club, Jawalakhel Youth Club and Galaxian Club.

Kaski, after dropping the opening game 20-25 to Bhaktapur Young Circle, put in superb display of attacking volleyball to outplay the local lads in the second game at 25-17. Leveling the match at one game apiece, Kaski looked even sharper with their smashes in the third game and despite the resistance from the opposition took the game at 25-21.

More frustration was to follow for the local crowd as Kaski wrapped up the match taking the fourth game at identical 25-21 margin. Hemanta Chaudhary of the winning team was awarded man of the match.

Earlier in the first quarterfinal, Tribhuvan Club had little difficulty in overcoming Ratna Rajya Campus. They took the match with a comfortable 25-16, 25-20, 25-13 win to set up Monday’s semifinal clash with Kaski Volleyball Association. Keshab Pandey of the Army team bagged the man of the match award.

Likewise, Jawalakhel Youth Club (JYC), spurred on by brilliant exhibition from man of the match winner Himal Shrestha, reserved a berth in the semifinals scoring an easy 25-17, 25-9, 25-19 win. Their opposition in the semifinal will be Galaxian Club, who scored a straight 26-24, 25-23, 25-21 win over Banepa Municipality in the tournament’s last quarterfinal. Binaya Yadav, Galaxian Club’s national team player, was adjudged man of the match.