Ramroonline
September 21, 2025 
KATHMANDU, Sept 21 – A decade after Nepal’s 2015 Constitution recognized sport as a tool for national unity, the Himalayan nation is marking major strides from international medals to upgraded stadiums.
In 2019, Nepal hosted the South Asian Games for the third time, finishing second overall with a record 206 medals, including 51 golds.
The country’s biggest breakthrough came at the Paris 2024 Paralympics, where taekwondo athlete Palesha Goverdhan won Nepal’s first-ever Olympic or Paralympic medal, a bronze. Karateka Erika Gurung also took silver at the 2023 Asian Games, while Nepal’s women’s kabaddi team claimed a historic bronze.
Cricket has emerged as Nepal’s fastest-growing sport. The men’s team gained ODI status in 2018, played the 2024 T20 World Cup, and faced India and Pakistan at the 2023 Asia Cup. The women’s team reached the T20 World Cup regional finals and won silver at the 2019 South Asian Games.
Football remains hugely popular. Nepal won the 2016 South Asian Games gold and finished runners-up in the 2021 SAFF Championship. The women’s team has been SAFF runner-up seven times.
Infrastructure has also improved, with the Kirtipur cricket ground fitted with floodlights and new venues in Mulpani, Pokhara and Biratnagar hosting international fixtures.
But challenges remain. Sports funding is limited, many associations are inactive, and top athletes often leave for jobs abroad. Officials warn that unless sports become a viable profession at home, Nepal risks losing momentum despite its recent successes.