KATHMANDU: “When relatives mocked me saying, ‘She’s a girl—and disabled too! What can she possibly achieve by kicking?’ it hurt deeply,” recalls the para taekwondo athlete Palesha Govardhan, who was born without full fingers on her left hand.

Despite constant taunts, she turned those words into her greatest strength. At just 21, Palesha made history at the 2024 Paris Paralympics, winning Nepal’s first-ever Olympic or Paralympic medal.

She defeated Serbia’s Marija Micev 15–8 in the women’s under-57 kg taekwondo category to claim bronze. The government awarded her Rs 6.5 million in cash recognition.

Earlier, she had already impressed at the Tokyo 2020 Paralympics, winning two bouts — the best performance by a Nepali participant.

In 2023, she secured Nepal’s first-ever medal (bronze) at the Asian Para Games in Hangzhou. Palesha’s achievements have transformed public perception of women and disabled athletes in Nepal.

Many young girls have now joined para taekwondo, inspired by her success. “People like us have to fight not just inside the ring, but outside it too,” she says.

Volleyball star who defied tradition

In many Nepali communities, it’s still taboo for girls to wear shorts and play sports alongside boys. Niruta Thagunna, a volleyball player from Darchula, broke those barriers.

Gifted in athletics from school—excelling in high jump, long jump, and running—she switched to volleyball at 13 under the encouragement of her sports teacher, Nil Awasthi.

Despite playing barefoot and facing family objections, Niruta rose through local and provincial levels to the Sudurpaschim Province volleyball team.

Her talent caught the attention of national coach Jagdish Bhatta, and she joined the Tribhuvan Army Club, debuting for the national team in 2019.

She has since played in four international tournaments. “My father once forbade me from playing with boys. But the results of disobeying him are visible now,” she smiles.

From a village girl to Olympian

Marathoner Santoshi Shrestha grew up in a family where women were discouraged from education. Teachers told her sisters they’d only end up married. Santoshi challenged that belief, running from Dhading to the world stage.

Though she missed a medal at the Paris 2024 Olympics, she remains Nepal’s first female track-and-field gold medalist in the South Asian Games, clocking 35:07.94 in the 10,000 meters at the 2019 Kathmandu SAG.

“Education and sports aren’t about gender or caste,” she says. “They belong to everyone.”

Women still a minority in sports

Women entered national and international competitions only in the 1980s, and even today their participation remains limited. Social stigma, family restrictions, and financial hardship continue to hold them back.

Yet, women athletes such as Sangeeta Dhami (wrestling), Juni Rai (wushu), and Kusum and Anu Adhikari (karate)— all South Asian Games gold medalists — remain underrecognized despite being Nepal’s sports backbone.

Football is the only sport where women dominate. According to the All Nepal Football Association (ANFA), women’s participation has surged: 15 clubs competed in the latest ANFA Women’s League with over 300 players.

Cricket follows with 122 listed players, while kabaddi, volleyball, and taekwondo trail behind. Still, male athletes far outnumber females — about 1,990 more across six major sports. Coaches say recruiting and retaining women players is still difficult due to social constraints.

Rising achievements

Despite their smaller numbers, Nepali women have produced remarkable results. In 2022–23, Nepal won 145 international medals, including 42 by women (10 gold, 22 silver, 10 bronze).

In 2023–24, women won 100 of Nepal’s 303 total medals—roughly one-third. By 2024–25, women secured 72 medals (31 gold, 19 silver, 22 bronze), nearly 41% of Nepal’s total tally.

Karateka Arika Gurung, who won a historic silver at the Asian Games, says, “We may be fewer in number, but our results on the international stage prove our strength.”

Football: A realm of female dominance

Women’s football began officially in 1986 with Nepal’s first international match against Hong Kong. The first captain was Rama Singh, followed by Kamala Hirachan and Mira Chaudhary.Nepal scored its first international goal 14 years later, by Pema Lama in the 1999 AFC Championship.

The sport’s real turning point came after 2010, when players like Anu Lama brought Nepal to four SAFF and two South Asian Games finals, scoring 35 international goals.

Nepal’s women have since reached seven SAFF and three SAG finals, often outperforming the men’s team, which took 38 years to reach a regional final.

Today, the national women’s team is seen as a strong contender for the 2026 AFC Asian Cup and 2031 FIFA Women’s World Cup. “Equal leagues, investments, and opportunities would have brought us even further by now,” says Anu Lama.

Structural and financial inequality

Investment and infrastructure for women’s sports remain far below that for men. Female athletes receive less pay, shorter training periods, and fewer coaching opportunities.

Currently, women footballers earn the same as men—Rs 18,000 monthly—but only during tournaments. In cricket, male “A-grade” players earn Rs 100,000 per month, while women get just Rs 50,000.

Other sports often provide minimal stipends or none at all.Despite four decades of women’s football, Nepal has yet to produce a single female coach.“Women need female coaches to feel comfortable and progress,” says wushu coach Juni Rai.

National team captain Sabitra Bhandari (Samba) adds that abroad, separate facilities and schedules exist for women, but in Nepal “we all train in the same ground with limited time.”

Policy neglect and need for reform

Immediate past Finance Minister Bishnu Prasad Paudel recently announced plans for special awards and training programs for female athletes—but no details or timelines have been shared.

Boxing coach Deepak Maharjan criticizes the state’s neglect, “Athletes pay for their own training and travel, then get nothing but applause after winning.”

Only three departmental teams—Nepal Police, Nepal Army, and APF—offer limited sports jobs, mostly accessible to those with connections.

In contrast, governments abroad provide full support—training, nutrition, and housing—for Olympic hopefuls.

In Nepal, players pay their own way to glory. Maharjan warns, “These women are the future pillars of Nepali sports. We must build a proper system now—less promises, more opportunities.”

The harsh truth remains: Nepali women athletes are celebrated when they win but forgotten soon after. Changing that culture is the real victory Nepal still owes them.