KATHMANDU, Aug 25: Less than a month remains before the 20th Asian Games, and Nepali athletes are putting in intensive training ahead of the continental sporting event. Held every four years, the Asian Games will take place in Nagoya and Aichi, Japan, from September 19 to October 4.
Nepali athletes have been eagerly awaiting the Games. While the Olympics remain the world’s biggest sporting event, Nepal is yet to win an Olympic medal. Only three Nepali athletes have so far qualified for the Olympics through the regular qualification process, making an Olympic medal little more than a dream for the country.
Nepal has, however, already made history at the Paralympics. Para-taekwondo athlete Palesha Govardhan won a medal, achieving something no Nepali athlete has managed at the Olympics.
The Asian Games have therefore remained particularly important for Nepal because the country has a realistic chance of winning medals, even though it has never won gold.
The Asian Games began in India in 1951. Nineteen editions have been held over nearly seven and a half decades. Nepal is still waiting for its first gold medal.
Nepali athletes have come close to gold three times. Taekwondo athlete Sabita Rajbhandari, karateka Erika Gurung and Nepal’s paragliding team have all finished within reach of the top prize. Nepal’s best Asian Games result remains silver.
Asian Games: Nepal secures a medal in women's kabaddi
Nepal has won two individual silver medals and one team silver. Rajbhandari won the first in taekwondo in 1998. Nepal had to wait two decades for another silver. At the 2018 Asian Games in Indonesia, the men’s paragliding cross-country team of Bimal Adhikari, Vijay Gautam, Sushil Gurung, Yukesh Gurung and Bishal Gurung secured another silver.
At the 2022 Asian Games in China, karateka Erika Gurung raised hopes of Nepal’s first gold when she reached the final of the women’s 66kg category. She eventually lost to Kazakhstan’s Sofia Berultseva, leaving Nepal to settle for silver once again.
Erika is again regarded as Nepal’s strongest gold medal prospect at the upcoming Games in Japan. Other athletes could also produce breakthroughs, but Erika’s recent international performances have made her a particular focus of expectations.
Nepal has been preparing for the 20th Asian Games for nearly two years, the longest preparation period for an Asian Games so far. Officials and athletes therefore hope the extended preparation will help produce a new chapter in Nepal’s sporting history.
Former National Sports Council Member Secretary Tank Lal Ghising launched training under the Mission 2026 programme two years ago, setting a target of winning double-digit medals, including gold. Athletes from around 10 sports with a history of winning medals or strong medal prospects have been training for an extended period.
Nepal is preparing to send 136 athletes to compete in 22 sports at the 20th Asian Games. The contingent includes 80 men and 56 women, along with 32 coaches.
Nepali karate coach Mandekaji says Erika, who won silver at the 19th Asian Games, is targeting gold this time, while the team is also aiming for a medal in kata.
“Preparation began much earlier this time. Consistent performances and Erika’s successive international successes have encouraged all of us,” he said.
Over its 75-year Asian Games journey, Nepal has won 26 medals: three silver and 23 bronze. These medals have come only from taekwondo, karate, boxing, paragliding and kabaddi.
Taekwondo has been Nepal’s most successful sport, accounting for 15 medals, including one silver and 14 bronze. However, the sport has struggled over the past four editions. Once Nepal’s leading medal-producing discipline, taekwondo failed to make it through the qualification process this time. Three Nepali taekwondo athletes will nevertheless compete through wild cards.
Boxing has produced Nepal’s second-highest medal tally, with six bronze medals. At the previous Asian Games in Guangzhou, boxer Deepak Maharjan won a medal for Nepal. He is now returning to the Asian Games in Japan as a team coach.
Chandra Thapa is considered the team’s strongest medal prospect under Maharjan’s coaching. He won a bronze medal at last year’s IBA World Boxing Championships in the UAE, and officials hope he can repeat that performance at the Asian Games.
Deepak Shrestha, deputy director of the National Sports Council’s team preparation committee, said recent international results and the long preparation under Mission 2026 have increased expectations.
“We have to be optimistic. We were hopeful even in the past when preparations were inadequate. This time, some things are different. But this alone does not mean our preparation is sufficient. Recent international success and the Mission 2026 preparation have made us confident that we can achieve our mission,” he said.
After around 18 months of preparation under Mission 2026, Nepal is aiming for a historic gold medal and a double-digit medal haul. The task, however, will be difficult, with more than 11,000 athletes from 45 countries expected to compete at the Asian Games.
