October 10, 2026
Nepal secured two bronze medals at the 20th Asian Games Aichi-Nagoya 2026 in Japan, with karate athlete Tenzing Sherpa and the women's kabaddi team bringing pride to the nation. Nepal participated in 21 sports with 135 athletes, continuing its tradition of winning medals at the Asian Games since 1986. The Nepali contingent competed under Mission 2026, an initiative launched following the Hangzhou Asian Games in 2023 to improve the country's performance through focused preparation and international exposure.
Tenzing Sherpa won bronze in the men's over-84 kg karate category after defeating Laos' Vathana Sayasane 9–1 in the repechage bout. Meanwhile, Nepal's women's kabaddi team secured its second consecutive Asian Games bronze medal after also reaching the podium at Hangzhou in 2023. The team advanced to the semifinals after finishing second in Group B, recording victories over Thailand and Sri Lanka before facing eventual champions India. The achievement further established women's kabaddi as one of Nepal's promising sports at the continental level.
Nepali athletes also delivered notable performances in other disciplines. Mukesh Bahadur Pal set a national record in the men's 5,000 metres, Som Bahadur Kumal established a national record in the men's 800 metres, and swimmer Aviv Pradhan set a national record in the men's 50-metre butterfly. In golf, Subash Tamang made the cut and continued competing until the final day. Nepal's cricket team also advanced to the quarterfinals after defeating Afghanistan by five wickets in the group stage, although its quarterfinal against Sri Lanka was abandoned without a toss because of rain.
Nepal's participation in Aichi-Nagoya provided valuable international experience and important lessons for future sporting development. Building on the achievements of Tenzing Sherpa and the women's kabaddi team, the Nepal Olympic Committee aims to strengthen athlete development, coaching, sports science, and international exposure as the country looks towards the 21st Asian Games in Doha, Qatar, in 2030, with the ambition of improving its medal tally and pursuing its first Asian Games gold medal.
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Summer Youth Olympic Games, Dakar