Kathmandu, Sept,1: ‘Taekwondo practitioner Palesha Goverdhan won the biggest sporting medal for Nepal with a historic bronze at the 2024 Paris Paralympics’ has been the hottest topic in Nepal since Friday midnight. And the history maker has dedicated the medal to all Nepalis.

Palesha defeated Serbia’s Marija Micev 15-8 in the final to clinch the first-ever medal of Nepal at the Paralympics. Furthermore, losing her bout against reigning world champion, Brazil’s Silvana Mayara Cardoso Fernandes in the quarter-final with only two points showed how much more capable Palesha is.

“The scene was one of pure, unbridled jubilation when the hooter sounded to proclaim the end of the match. It was a historic moment for both Goverdhan and Nepal. Her coaches raced onto the mat to embrace their nation’s first Paralympic medallist,” the Olympics wrote on its website.  

Senior athletes, sports authorities and associations, sports fans, the general public and leaders have flooded social media platforms to congratulate Palesha and her coach Kabiraj Negi Lama for the feat.

Palesha started practising taekwondo as a 10-year-old at Jawalakhel-based DAV School and got associated with the national para-taekwondo team in 2016. In 2017, Palesha debuted in her first international competition in South Korea; she finished fifth.

Born as the second child to father Pradip and mother Manita, 21-year-old Palesha had six international medals under her belt before Paris 2024 made it seven. She won gold in the 2nd Kathmandu Kyorugi and Poomsae International Taekwondo Championship 2018 and 2021 Asian Youth Para Games in Bahrain. She qualified for Paris 2024 after winning gold in the Paralympics Asian Qualification Tournament in China. She became the first Nepali to reach the Paralympics after winning in the qualifiers. Palesha also won a bronze in the 4th Asian Para 

Games in China.

It was Palesha’s second participation in the Paralympics. She had received a wild card entry in the Tokyo 2020 Paralympic Games and had come close to winning a bronze in her debut itself. She fulfilled the loss in 2024.

“We won the bronze with hard work and dedication. This medal is not just for me but for the whole country. We can now proudly say that Nepal has a medal at the Paralympics and I am happy that the first medal came from me,” said Palesha in a video message after the win.

“I am unable to reply to thousands of messages, but I want to say thank you to all and the medal is for Nepal,” 

she added.She also thanked her parents and coach Lama alongside the Nepal Taekwondo Association (NTA) for their continuous support. 

“Nepal has three athletes participating at the Paris Paralympics 2024 and one out of them has won a medal. It shows we Nepalis are capable. If we are provided with sufficient investment, we can win more medals for our country,” Palesha stressed.

On the other hand, coach Kabiraj has also dedicated the medal to Nepal and Nepalis. “I am thankful for Palesha to have made me and all of the Nepalis proud. I am grateful for the NTA to have given me the responsibility to coach her and help her from behind the curtains like her family,” Kabiraj said in the video message. 

The Paralympic bronze is Kabiraj’s 11th international medal. International Level-2 trainer Kabiraj has helped Nepali athletes win three gold, two silver and six bronze.

“Of the 11 medals, this bronze in the Paralympics is the biggest achievement to date,” said Lama, adding, “Despite her disability and being a woman, Palesha has made a big history in Nepal’s sports sector. It shows that Nepali athletes can achieve more.”

The paralympic team of Nepal in Paris will return on September 4 as para-swimmer Bhim Bahadur Kumal is competing on September 2.

As per the award-related provision in the National Sports Development Guideline-2079, Palesha will receive Rs. 6.5 million, the coach will receive Rs. 585,000 and the manager will get Rs. 292,000 from the government for the bronze.