The second edition of the international invitational Taplejung Gold Cup will be held from 3rd Bhadra.

The Lakhejatra Organizing Committee organized a press conference at the Community Building (City Hall) in Fungling on Tuesday and said that they are preparing to conduct the competition from the 3rd of Bhadra to the 10th of the coming year.

Chairman of the committee, Devraj Gurung, said that eight prestigious clubs, including one from the district, will be included in the game, which will be held at the playground of Bhanujan Secondary School.

According to him, Sangharsh Sporting Ukalipani Taplejung, Panchthar Football Club, Sagarmatha Sporting club Morang, Salhesh Youth club Siraha, Tribhuvan Army Club Kathmandu and Butwal Lumbini FC will participate in the Gold Cup.

Similarly, coordination is being done with the Jhapa team and the Indian team. According to the committee, it will be decided after a few days as to who will be included in the game as most of the teams from those regions have expressed their desire to participate in the Gold Cup.

On the occasion of Lakhejatra festival, the competition, which has officially started since 2029, has been running under different names. The match was postponed for 3 years due to corona pandemic. After that, the game has been started under the name Taplejung Gold Cup.

Increase in prize money

The prize money received by the winner of Taplejung Gold Cup has also been increased. According to the committee, this year's winner will receive a cash prize of 5 lakh 555 and the runner-up will receive a trophy, medal and certificate along with 250 thousand 555 rupees. Chairman Gurung said that compared to last year, the cash amount of the winner was increased by 261,000 rupees and that of the runner-up by 1 lakh rupees. Similarly, it is said that 15,000 rupees will be awarded to the best player throughout the game, top scorer, best forward, emerging player, best goalkeeper, defense, midfielder and coach and 10,000 rupees. According to the committee, the man of the match of each match will also be provided with 5,000 rupees in cash.

Considering ticket sales as the main source of income, the committee has fixed the ticket price in 3 categories. The ticker rate has been fixed at Rs 100 for the quarter-final match, Rs 200 for the semi-final and Rs 250 for the final match. The amount collected from the tickets each day is being prepared to be made public on the same day in the evening through the official Facebook page of Taplejung Gold Cup. Last year, the committee earned nearly 19 lakh rupees from ticket sales. Last year, there is a preparation to increase the capacity of the Parafit to address the complaints that the spectators could not sit and watch the match in the Parafit due to lack of space even after buying tickets. It is said that mobile sets will also be provided to those who buy tickets every day through lucky draw.