Thunderbolts Cup 2023 kicks off

The inaugural Thunderbolts Cup-GEMS Sports Festival kicked off on Sept 24 at the GEMS campus, marking the commencement of an event set to see the participation of over 100 schools and more than 4,000 students from various corners of the country.

The Thunderbolt Cup 2023 promises an adrenaline-pumping competition spanning a diverse range of sports disciplines. From individual contests to team athletic games, it covers the spectrum with Football, Cricket, Swimming, Martial Arts such as Judo and Taekwondo, and popular indoor games like Basketball, Volleyball, Table Tennis, Futsal, and Chess.

The ceremony was inaugurated by the guest of honor, Dhruva Bahadur Pradhan, former Minister for Law and ex-Inspector General of Nepal Police (IGP). Pradhan underscored the pivotal role of sports in instilling discipline and character in individuals. Expressing his warm congratulations and appreciation to the GEMS family, he emphasized that while victory is a worthy pursuit, fostering friendship and peace should be equally prioritized in sports.

Among the other notable guests were Vishnu Gopal Shrestha, the founding president of Nepal Judo and Boxing Association; Pankaj Nembang, president of the All Nepal Football Association (ANFA); and Sitaram Shahi, Nepal’s pioneering swimming Olympian who represented the nation at the 1996 Atlanta Olympics.

The event’s theme, “Dream it, believe it, achieve it,” resonates with the vision and dedication of the GEMS School’s Sports and Co-Curricular Activities Department in orchestrating this grand competition, affirmed the organizers.

Adding to the event’s allure is the substantial reward of a cash prize totaling Rs 5,00,000, set to be bestowed upon the overall winners based on the total points amassed across various sports categories.

The primary objective of Thunderbolt Cup 2023 is to cultivate a robust sports culture and camaraderie among schools in Nepal, according to the organizers. They stated, “The Thunderbolt Cup 2023 promises to be a celebration of sportsmanship, teamwork, and unwavering dedication to fostering a promising enthusiasm for sports in the country. Sports enthusiasts and the like-minded community at large are invited to witness and participate in this extraordinary sporting spectacle, which is poised to leave an indelible mark in the annals of Nepali sports history.”

The events are slated to unfold over a span of 16 days, culminating on Oct 8.