Pokhara, Nov 25: The Nepal China International Mountain Cross Country Competition has kicked off in Pokhara today.
The event is a joint initiative of Embassy of China in Kathmandu, Pokhara Metropolitan City and Nepal Tourism Board.
Under the slogan of Race for Shared Prosperity, the event is being held in four categories, including group and individual competition, happy run and student run.
A total of 20 groups are competing in the group competition category. The competition involves a distance of 40 kilometers to be covered by running, cycling and boating.
The winner of the group category will also win a cash prize of Rs. 360,000. The second will get Rs 288,000, the third will win Rs 216,000 and the fourth will get Rs 144,000.
Likewise, the winner in the individual male and female category will each receive a prize of Rs 144,000 while the second and third will win Rs 108,000 and 54,000 respectively.
Starting from Barahighat in Lakeside, the race involves the distance passing through Birouta, Furse Khola, Ramadi, Ulleri, Bhumdi, Lukunswarna, Lichibot to end at Barahighat.
Similarly, the winner of the five-kilometer student race competition will receive Rs. 25,000 to be followed by the second prize of Rs 20,000 and the third prize of Rs 15,000.
Earlier, Chief Minister of Gandaki Surendra Raj Pandey, Chinese Ambassador to Nepal Chen Song, Mayor of Pokhara Dhanraj Acharya jointly inaugurated the event.
At the opening ceremony, Chief Minister Pandey expressed the belief that the competition would help to increase the popularity Pokhara worldwide and also contribute to development of sports tourism.
Chinese Ambassador to Nepal Song said that such event will make a special contribution to strengthen the age-old relationship between Nepal and China.
The Nepal China Dragon Boat Festival has already been held in Pokhara, which, he said, has helped to bring more Chinese tourists to the lake city.
