KATHMANDU: The Chitwan Rhinos, a team participating in the Nepal Premier League (NPL), has announced that it will donate 5 percent of the revenue generated from the sale of its merchandise, including t-shirts, to the conservation of the rare one-horned rhinoceros. Ayush Neupane, president of the Chitwan Rhinos Sports Club, stated that since the club’s name is associated with the rhinoceros, it aims to contribute to its protection. The club has been promoting conservation messages through the use of the one-horned rhino’s image.

The club has been working to promote the one-horned rhino, a symbol of Chitwan National Park, to the world through cricket. As a sister organization of Chitwan Medical College, the Chitwan Rhinos have focused on both sports promotion and conservation efforts. Club director Pratap Devkota mentioned that the team is preparing to enter the field this season with the goal of winning the title. The team finished fourth in the first edition of the NPL and seventh in the second.

The club has also been supporting local sports and social activities, including providing aid to flood victims in Bhotekoshi and sponsoring musical events in the district. Narayan Prasad Adhikari, chief of the District Coordination Committee in Chitwan, described the club as a matter of pride for the district, noting that sports help develop discipline and attract the public to games.

The third edition of the NPL begins today. With the start of the tournament, there has been an increase in activity among sports fans in hotels, restaurants, and public spaces throughout Chitwan. Flags bearing the Chitwan Rhinos logo have been placed in various locations. To facilitate live viewing of the matches, arrangements have been made at several sites, including the Birendra Campus ground, Bishal Chowk, and Chitwan Spicy Herbal at Dipendra Chowk.