The organizers of the 18th edition of Pulsar Sports Awards held in Kathmandu yesterday expressed their regret in awarding one of the prizes. That award was the Lifetime Achievement Award. The award was posthumously awarded to Sharad Chandra Shah, who had made significant contributions to the Nepali sports sector.
The late Shah had been the member secretary of the National Sports Council for 11 years. During his tenure, the physical infrastructure of sports was connected from Mechi Zone in the east to Mahakali Zone in the west of Nepal, which the current management is finding difficult to maintain.
He started national sports and inter-city sports in Nepal. He was one of the founders of the South Asian Games. He was instrumental in launching the South Asian Games from Nepal in 1984.
Judo, karate and taekwondo programs, which were banned in Nepal in the past, were started during his tenure. Similarly, He was active in starting women's football in Nepal. During his time, many sports associations were opened in Nepal. There were many competitions throughout the year, as well. Nepal’s international participation and achievements were also remarkable.
Shah was also elected vice president of the Olympic Council of Asia, the apex body for sports.
He emphasized the need for discipline in sports. His long tenure in sports also ended due to ethics. Shah had resigned on moral grounds in 1988 after several people were killed in a storm-induced stampede in the final of a football tournament at Dasharath Stadium.
He was then nominated Vice-Chairman of the National Population Commission. His house was set on fire by protesters during the 1990 uprising.
After the restoration of the multi-party system in Nepal, politics became more important than sports. After the change of government, the officials of the National Sports Council were changed. Those office bearers could not complete their tenure, which also affected Nepalese sporting activities. Competitions were declining in Nepal and international participation as well.
Former member secretary of National Sports Council Shah died in Singapore nine years ago.
Nepal's famous marathon runner Baikuntha Manandhar credits the late Shah for the South Asian record he set in 1987. Former sports journalist Shyam Chitrakar says that Nepali sports can achieve a lot if they can follow the good work done by Shah.
Sanjeev Silpakar, vice-president of Nepal Sports Journalists Forum and a well-known commentator on football in Nepal, regrets the delay in honoring the late Shah in the 18th edition of the award ceremony.
The late Shah, who made significant contributions in the development of Nepali sports, is still admired by Nepali sports coaches as well as sports fans.
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