Nepal’s taekwondo sensation, Palesha Govardhan, has been recognized for her historic achievement at the Paris Paralympics. The government has announced a cash reward of 65 lakh rupees for her bronze medal win, which marked the country’s first-ever Olympic medal.
As per the National Sports Development Regulations 2079, athletes who secure bronze medals in individual competitions at the Olympic Games, Summer/Winter/Para/Special Olympics, or the FIFA World Cup are entitled to this prize. In addition, Palesha’s coach, Kabiraj Negi Lama, will receive a cash reward of 5 lakh rupees, and the Nepal Taekwondo Association will be awarded 11 lakh 70 thousand rupees.
Govardhan’s journey to the podium was nothing short of remarkable. She defeated Marija Mičev of Serbia 15-8 in the women’s 57 kg under the K44 category to clinch the bronze medal. Despite Nepal’s six-decade-long participation in the Olympics, this was the country’s first-ever medal win.
Before her bronze medal triumph, Govardhan had showcased her skills by defeating Venezuela’s Valeria Morales 31-0 in the first round. However, she faced a setback in the quarterfinals, losing to Brazil’s Silvana Mayara Fernandes. Undeterred, Govardhan fought her way back into contention through the repechage, defeating France’s Sophie Caverzan 2-1 to secure the bronze medal.
