Six Nepali athletes eye national records and breakthrough at 20th Asian Games

Nepal's athletics contingent for the 20th Asian Games in Aichi-Nagoya, Japan, carries significant aspirations beyond mere participation. Six athletes, four men and two women, are undergoing rigorous twice-daily training, aiming to shatter long-standing national records and, if conditions align, contend for medals.

Among the competitors are seasoned athletes like Santoshi Shrestha and Som Bahadur Kumal, who are returning for their second and third Asian Games appearances, respectively. For others, including Mukesh Bahadur Pal, Rajan Rokaya, Khadak Bahadur Khadka, and Purnalakshmi Neupane, the Games mark their debut on the continental stage.

Khadak Bahadur Khadka, a Nepal Army runner, has a specific goal: to break the nearly four-decade-old national marathon record of 2 hours, 15 minutes, and 03 seconds, set by Baikuntha Manandhar in 1987. Khadka, who has improved his personal best to around 2 hours and 15 minutes, expressed confidence that he can achieve this feat in Aichi-Nagoya if conditions are favorable. He acknowledged Manandhar's legacy, stating, "Baikuntha Manandhar’s achievement has made us chase that time even today. I want to thank him. He also blesses us and tells us that we are getting close and should keep doing well."

Nepal's athletics history at the Asian Games, which dates back to 1951, is marked by a lack of medals. However, individual athletes have achieved notable successes in other championships, such as Jit Bahadur KC's marathon bronze medals in the 1970s, Ajit Kumar Yadav's gold at the 2019 Asian Youth Athletics Championships, and Deepak Adhikari's gold at the 2022 Asian Cross Country Championships. The current team hopes to add a new chapter to this legacy.

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Baikuntha Manandhar’s achievement has made us chase that time even today. I want to thank him. He also blesses us and tells us that we are getting close and should keep doing well. If the weather, my health and everything else support me there, I believe I can break the record.