From chasing medals to making champions: Ashok Khadka’s journey in Taekwondo
Summary
Nepali taekwondo international referee Ashok Khadka turned to coaching and officiating after injuries ended his competitive career. He now runs the National Taekwondo Academy, trains young athletes, and aims to represent Nepal in Olympic-level refereeing.
Key Points
- Ashok Khadka shifted from competing to coaching and refereeing after serious leg injuries ended his hopes of winning medals as an athlete.
- He completed an international referee course in 2018 and now serves as a second-class international referee in both kyorugi and poomsae.
- Khadka founded the National Taekwondo Academy in 2014 to train young athletes and help them reach national and international competitions.
- Beyond sports, he has also been involved in social work, including training women affected by sexual violence and supporting disaster relief.
