Nepal falls short of ambitious target
Summary
Nepal finished 36th at the Asian Games with two bronze medals, falling far short of its ambitious target under the Mission 2026 training programme. Officials blamed the result on weak grassroots investment and called for long-term high-level training and more international exposure.
Key Points
- Nepal ended the Aichi-Nagoya Asian Games in 36th place with two bronze medals from karate and women's kabaddi.
- The government’s Mission 2026 programme had targeted a double-digit medal haul, including at least one gold, after years of preparation.
- Arika Gurung missed out on a podium finish, while Tenzing Sherpa and the women's kabaddi team won Nepal's bronze medals.
- Minister for Education and Sports Sasmit Pokhrel said sports results require sustained grassroots investment, and Deepak Shrestha urged continued long-term high-level training.
