KATHMANDU, Sept 30: Nepal’s karate team has returned home after winning medals at two international competitions held in Japan.
The eight-member team, comprising three men and five women, competed at the 20th Asian Games in Nagoya from September 20 to 23 and the 11th Shitoryu Karate-Do International Championship in Yokohama from September 25 to 27.
Tenzing Sherpa won Nepal’s only medal at the Asian Games, securing bronze in the men’s over-84kg category. He defeated a Lao opponent 9-1 in the bronze-medal bout, earning Nepal its first medal at the 20th Asian Games.
Karate team leaves for Japan
Tenzing became the fifth Nepali karate athlete to win an Asian Games medal. Nepal had previously won one silver and three bronze medals in karate at the Asian Games.
In Yokohama, Nepal won six medals—two gold, one silver and three bronze. Rakesh Manandhar won gold in the men’s under-60kg category, while Arika Gurung took gold in the women’s over-68kg category.
Nirupa Dong Tamang won silver in the women’s under-68kg category, while Min Bahadur Tamang secured bronze in the men’s under-67kg category. Arika and Nirupa also won bronze in the women’s team kumite.
Megha Limbu, Alisha Raskoti Magar and Sanumaya Thing competed alongside them in the team kumite event. The trio also helped Nepal win bronze in the women’s team kata.
The team travelled to Yokohama from Nagoya after competing at the Asian Games.
Tenzing thanked his Boudha Dojo and others who supported his karate journey, saying he still has a long way to go.
Nepal Karate Federation President Yubaraj Lama, General Secretary Dawa Gurung and coaches Kushal Shrestha and Mandekaji Shrestha also returned with the team.
Officials from the National Sports Council, the Ministry of Youth and Sports, Nepal Karate Federation, as well as athletes, coaches and family members, welcomed the team upon its arrival.
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