Strong sporting foundations key to producing champions, say athletes

Nepali athletes say sustained international success depends on strong sporting foundations. These foundations include usable infrastructure, better training, sports education, qualified coaching, and regular competitions. The goal is not just to win one tournament. It is to build a system that develops athletes over many years and prepares them consistently for international opponents.

Their experiences show why this matters. Kabaddi player Manamati Bista said Nepal still lacks kabaddi infrastructure, despite the women’s team winning Asian Games bronze medals in 2023 and 2026. Volleyball captain Niruta Thagunna said two or three months of training was not enough for the Asian Games. Footballer Bikram Lama called for annual leagues, grassroots learning, and stronger coaching qualifications.

The athletes’ message is that occasional success cannot replace long-term planning. Nepal needs regular leagues, friendly matches, facilities, and education for players and coaches. The Nepal Premier League offers one promising model by giving emerging cricketers opportunities and exposure to experienced international players.

In practice, a strong sporting foundation is a connected system that supports athletes before, during, and after major competitions. It includes sports facilities, regular training, qualified coaches, sports education, and competitions held often enough to build experience. It also starts at grassroots level, where young players learn modern methods and good habits.

The article gives clear examples of what is missing. Manamati Bista said Nepal has no kabaddi infrastructure and that a promised players’ hostel has not been built. Niruta Thagunna said young volleyball players lacked enough friendly matches. Bikram Lama said football needs annual leagues, coaching qualifications such as the Pro Licence, and moral and social education for players.

These parts work together. Facilities allow training. Coaches improve technique. Education supports better decisions and behaviour. Regular competition develops confidence and match experience. Without this structure, tournaments may create brief excitement but cannot produce steady international progress. Nepal’s sports bodies therefore need long-term plans and stronger institutions.

The figures reveal a serious shortage of meaningful competition and preparation. Bikram Lama played football for 21 years but appeared in only eight league seasons. That means much of his career passed without a regular domestic league platform. Niruta Thagunna added that two or three months of training was not enough for an Asian Games campaign.

These are not simply scheduling problems. Athletes need repeated matches to gain experience, test tactics, handle pressure, and improve with better opponents. Young volleyball players especially lacked friendly matches, so they entered major competition without enough exposure. Football players faced a similar problem because the domestic league was not held consistently.

The situation limits Nepal’s ability to build depth and continuity. Talented players may have too few chances to develop, while teams have less time to blend new and experienced athletes. Annual leagues, longer preparation periods, and more friendly matches would create a steadier pathway from emerging player to international competitor.

Regular competition teaches athletes how to respond when matches become difficult. Friendly games and longer training camps help players build experience, understand tactics, and work effectively with teammates. Exposure to stronger opponents also shows athletes what standards they must reach. Without these opportunities, preparation remains incomplete.

Niruta Thagunna said Nepal’s newer volleyball players lacked sufficient friendly matches. Although they played well, she said their limited experience affected both their experience and performance. She also said two or three months of preparation could not adequately prepare a team for the Asian Games. Karan KC described how the Nepal Premier League helped players learn to manage pressure during difficult moments.

The consequence is a weaker path to international improvement. Players may show promise but lack the confidence and decision-making developed through repeated competition. Teams also have less time to build coordination. Regular leagues, friendly matches, longer camps, and contact with stronger competitors can turn potential into reliable performance.

Nepal’s athletes described different versions of the same problem: uneven sporting support. Kabaddi has produced Asian Games medals, yet Manamati Bista said Nepal still has no kabaddi infrastructure and that a promised hostel remains unfinished. Women athletes also face barriers in villages and communities. Success has not automatically created better facilities.

Volleyball has players willing to improve, but Niruta Thagunna said the team lacked enough preparation and friendly matches, especially for new players. Cricket presented a more positive example. Karan KC called the Nepal Premier League a model because it gives emerging players opportunities and lets them learn from experienced international players such as David Warner.

Football faces the widest structural concerns in the discussion. Bikram Lama said he played only eight league seasons in 21 years and urged an annual competition. He identified managerial and technical shortcomings, while also calling for sports education, qualified coaching, and institutional planning. These examples show why one policy cannot solve every sport’s needs.

A talent-hunting league can connect promising athletes with regular competition and stronger learning environments. Instead of waiting for rare national opportunities, emerging players can demonstrate their ability in organised matches. They also learn how to train, make decisions, and respond when the pressure rises. This creates a practical bridge between potential and higher-level performance.

Karan KC said the Nepal Premier League was emerging as a model for Nepali sports. He described it as a platform for discovering talent. The league also brought a player like David Warner to the Kathmandu Gorkhas. Nepali players could learn from him, including how to manage pressure and control difficult situations during matches.

The value goes beyond individual lessons. A competitive league can create a stronger atmosphere, expose young players to experienced teammates and opponents, and improve the wider standard of play. If such opportunities continue regularly, Nepal can develop more players with match experience and confidence. The league therefore offers a possible model for other sports.

Occasional tournaments can provide exposure, but they do not create athletes from the ground up. Long-term institutions give players places to train, qualified people to guide them, and regular matches to test their progress. Grassroots programs introduce better methods early. Sports education helps players and coaches understand modern, responsible approaches to the game.

Bikram Lama said football needs lessons passed to the next generation from grassroots level. He also identified managerial and technical weaknesses, and called for coaching qualifications such as the Pro Licence and moral and social education. His experience—eight league seasons in 21 years—shows the cost of irregular competitions. Niruta Thagunna likewise said two or three months of training was insufficient.

A stable system creates continuity. Players gain experience, coaches improve, and teams can plan beyond a single event. Facilities and annual competitions make development possible between major tournaments. Nepal’s athletes therefore favour institutional structures and long-term investment over simply organising more isolated tournaments.