Kathmandu December 31.Minister for Communications and Information Technology Gokul Prasad Baskota has said that Nepal has emerged as the second powerful force in South Asia’s sports sector. Inaugurating a marathon tournament at Bhimduttanagar in Kanchanpur district today, Minister Baskota viewed the need for encouraging the players after their search. Saying that there were beautiful touristic sites in the far-west, Baskota stressed the need for their studies and research works. On the occasion, he also claimed that prosperity in the far-west region was possible through the development of agriculture, tourism and medicinal herbs. “Along with accessible physical infrastructures, environment conducive should be created for the visitors. Khaptad, the site of meditation for the hermits and a source for medicinal herbs, should be developed and the government is committed to that end,” he pledged.