The National Sports Council (NSC) will hold the first closed camp for participants of the 9th SAF Games from Monday after the Finance Ministry agreed to release the first installment of Rs.20.2 million budgeted for the apex sports authority Friday, an announcement said.

Nepal’s full participation was in doubt after initial government hesitation to release the funds. Altogether 160, athletes, 62 coaches, referees and officials and eight journalists have been selected for the Nepali squad for the SAF Games to be held in Pakistan from October 6, Member Secretary of NSC Binod Shanker Palikhe said.