Nepal supplied their first-ever Paralympic medallist a hero’s welcome Wednesday as supporting teams ended up for taekwondo superstar Palesha Goverdhan’s return dwelling.
Goverdhan, 21, took bronze on the 2024 Paralympics in Paris, the preliminary Games platform space in background for the Himalayan nation which have moreover by no means ever received a medal on the Olympics.
“I am filled with immense pride for having achieved this victory for our beloved nation,” Goverdhan said on social networks upfront of her return to Kathmandu.
“The countless hours of hard work and dedication have truly paid off, and the feeling is simply overwhelming.”
Traditional songs and the army band performed as Goverdhan arised to loud joys at Kathmandu’s airport terminal, curtained within the nationwide flag, marigold garlands and commonplace Buddhist headscarfs.
Many younger taekwondo skilled athletes had been amongst tons of collected to ask again Goverdhan, that beamed a broad smile and stood up her medal.
“I am very happy, very inspired and proud for the country,” said 13-year-old taekwondo skilled athlete Nandani Adhikari, that was amongst the teams on the airport terminal.
“Her victory feels like our own,” she included.
Goverdhan, that’s inspecting constructing design in China, received bronze within the girls’s K44-57kg para taekwondo classification when she defeated Serbia’s Marija Micev 15-8.
Born with a hereditary arm or leg scarcity on her left hand, Goverdhan occupied preventing types in school when she was ten years outdated.
– ‘So pleased’ –
Her dad Pradeep Goverdhan said her teacher detected her skill and beneficial she educate expertly.
“She has made us so proud. As parents, you are worried when your child is born with a deficiency like that. But we always encouraged her,” he said.
“As a child, she was always very determined, worked hard and achieved anything if her heart was set on it.”
Sugam Bhattarai, from Nepal’s National Federation of the Disabled, said he actually hoped the success will surely help varied different skilled athletes attain their aims.
“Her achievement has not only brought glory to Nepal, but has also shined a spotlight on the potential of para athletes in a country where para sports have often been underfunded and overlooked,” he said.
“I hope it will encourage investment in para sports. It is the same national flag, no matter who raises it,” he said.
Goverdhan accomplished fifth on the Tokyo 2020 Paralympic Games and said in conferences previous to Paris that was “aiming for gold”.
In 2022, Goverdhan got here to be the preliminary Nepali skilled athlete to win a medal on the Asian Para Games with a bronze. A yr previous to she had truly received gold on the Asian Youth Para Games.
She moreover received the bronze medal within the 2018 Asian Para Taekwondo Championship in Vietnam.
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