Kathmandu: Former Nepali international karate player Narayan Dev Rana officially announced his candidacy for the presidential post of the Nepal Democratic Sports Union (NDSU)—the sports wing of Nepali Congress—during a press conference held in Kathmandu on Wednesday.

The NDSU election is scheduled for September 7 in Kathmandu.

Rana, who is also the former president of the National Sports Council Employees Association, said:  “I have always been a loyal cadre of the Nepali Congress and have actively contributed in both sports and politics. I believe I am the right person to lead the party’s sports wing.” 

Extending support for Rana’s candidacy, former Sports Minister of Bagmati Province Min Krishna Maharjan described NDSU as the backbone of the Nepali Congress and also voiced dissatisfaction over the current leadership.

“The current leadership appears passive and uninspiring. There are many sportspersons within the Nepali Congress who have made historic contributions to the nation, yet they are often overlooked. A capable leader like Rana is essential to rejuvenate and energize NDSU,” Maharjan stated.

Rana, also a general convention member of Nepali Congress, has won a gold medal at the South Asian Karate Championships in 1992 (Kathmandu) and a bronze medal at the 6th Asian SKF Karate-Do Championships in 1991 (Kathmandu). He also coached the Nepali karate team at the 2006 Doha Asian Games, as well as at the Asian Pacific Karate Championships held in Hong Kong (2012) and Indonesia (2018).

Rana served as President of the Nepal Wrestling Association beginning in 2015, and led the National Sports Council Employees Association for two terms from 2007 to 2013.

The announcement event was attended by Lalitpur District Sports Development Committee President Binod Maharjan, Bagmati Province National Sports Committee Member Rabi Maharjan, Karate Chief Coach Dipak Shrestha, and Nepal National and International Players Association President Dipak Shrestha, among others.