May 23, Dhankuta – The 18th edition of the Shaheed Bhimanarayan Gold Cup football tournament is set to begin today at the Tallo Tundikhel ground in Dhankuta. Matches will start from 3 PM, according to the organizers. The opening game will feature Salhes Football Club from Siraha against Rashtriya Jagruti Club from Sunsari.
Running until May 29, the tournament will include eight teams, including Salhes Football Club Siraha and Rashtriya Jagruti Club Sunsari. Other participants are the hosts Shaheed Bhimanarayan Smriti Pratishthan, Gaighat United Club Udayapur, Birtamod United Club Jhapa, Belbari Football Club Morang, Sattdobato Youth Club Lalitpur, and Georgian Football Club from India.
Last year, the champion received NPR 500,000 in cash along with trophies, medals, cups, and certificates, while the runner-up took home NPR 250,000 and similar awards. This year, the winning team will be awarded NPR 600,000 in cash plus trophies and medals, with the runner-up receiving NPR 300,000 alongside trophies and medals.
Each game’s Player of the Match will earn NPR 6,000 in cash. The organizers also announced that the tournament’s best player and best players in different categories will receive special awards.
Coordinator Shambhu Pradhan shared that ten subcommittees have been formed to manage finances, publicity, field arrangements, stage setup, security, volunteers, and first aid services.
The main supporter of the event is Dhankuta Municipality, with all local governments in the district also contributing. Sponsors include Extreme Energy Drink, co-sponsor Shrikrishna Furniture and Flooring Suppliers Dhankuta, N Penang Football Club Malaysia, Jeevan Bikash Laghubitta Bittiya Sanstha Morang, Sunauulo Jeevan Sudhar Kendra Dhankuta, Solve Nepal Dhankuta, and Nepal Telecom Dhankuta. Spectators can watch the games free of charge.
In last year’s 17th edition, Namobuddha Football Club from Saptari won the title, with Gaighat Football Club from Udayapur finishing as runners-up.
The estimated budget for the tournament is NPR 4.5 million. Each team will have 18 players, one coach, and one manager, totaling 20 members. Up to four foreign players can participate per team, with three allowed on the field at a time. Indian players will receive recognition equal to that of local players.
According to the schedule, on Monday, Gaighat United Club Udayapur will face Birtamod United Club Jhapa; Tuesday’s match is between the hosts Shaheed Bhimanarayan Smriti Pratishthan and Georgian Football Club of India; Wednesday features Belbari Football Club Morang against Sattdobato Youth Club Lalitpur. The semifinals will be played on Thursday and Friday, with the final scheduled for Saturday.
The tournament began in 1998 (BS 2055) and resumed regular annual operations from 2006 (BS 2063) after a few years’ hiatus. It was initiated when Rajeshwar Bahadur Shrestha, then chairperson of Ward No. 6 of Dhankuta Municipality, allocated the budget for the event.
In the initial years, teams from the former Koshi Zone and later from the Eastern Development Region participated. The competition honors Shaheed Bhimanarayan Shrestha, who was sentenced to death in 1978 (BS 2035) for allegedly attempting to assassinate King Birendra Shah. The government officially declared him a martyr in 2017 (BS 2074).
