Kathmandu: The Eighth National Skateboard Championship began on Friday at the Skaters Nepal Skatepark in Tokha, Kathmandu, organized by the Nepal Skating and Skateboarding Association. The two-day event features 250 male and 150 female skaters from across the country, with teams from all seven provinces competing.

On the first day, the qualifying rounds were successfully completed. The final rounds are scheduled for Saturday, as confirmed by the organizers. The competition includes freestyle events such as Best Trick and Best Run. The top three winners will receive cash prizes of NPR 25,000, NPR 20,000, and NPR 15,000, respectively.

Achut Khanal, President of the Nepal Skating and Skateboarding Association, highlighted the event’s significance as a qualifier for the Asian Championship to be held in Incheon, South Korea, in 2025. “This championship will provide Nepal’s top skateboarders with an opportunity to compete on an international stage,” he said.

The formal opening ceremony is set for Saturday, led by Tankalal Ghising, Member-Secretary of the National Sports Council. The prize distribution will take place in the presence of Jeevan Ram Shrestha, President of the Nepal Olympic Committee, as the chief guest.

The championship at Skaters Nepal Skatepark in Tokha is expected to boost the popularity of skateboarding among youth and showcase the talent of emerging skaters, contributing significantly to the sport’s growth in Nepal.