Sunmaya Budha returned from a record-breaking win in Italy. Nepal barely noticed

Sunmaya Budha was crowned the new queen of the Lavaredo Ultra Trail 120K in Italy on June 27, conquering the grueling 120-kilometer course with over 5,800 meters of elevation gain. She crossed the finish line to thunderous applause, celebrated as a champion after setting a new course record. However, her triumphant return to Nepal three days later was met with a starkly different reception.

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I knew there wouldn’t be a grand welcome for a trail runner at the airport, even after winning one of the biggest races. That’s why I usually don’t even share my arrival details.

At Tribhuvan International Airport, a small group led by the Nepal Adventure Running Federation (NARF) Vice-President Rajan Khatri, along with a handful of supporters, welcomed Budha home. She arrived with the winner's medal, but without the fanfare typically associated with such a significant international achievement. Budha, accustomed to this lack of public attention, stated she had long expected such a reception and often doesn't share her arrival details to avoid disappointment.

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Sunmaya is a great runner. The race she just won was one of the biggest races in the world where elite runners participate.

Budha's victory was not just a win; it was a rewriting of history. She completed the course in 13 hours, 33 minutes, and 18 seconds, surpassing the previous course record, which had stood for 11 years, by more than six minutes. Preeti Khatri, founder and director of Nepal Trail Series, which manages Budha's career, emphasized the magnitude of the race, calling it one of the biggest in the world for elite runners. Khatri expressed dismay at the lack of government representatives at the airport, questioning the state's recognition of Budha's achievement for Nepal.

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Do you see any representatives from the government? Sunmaya won one of the world's biggest trail races while representing Nepal. And this is what she gets in return.

Nepal Trail Series has called on the government to provide state honors or a national award and arrange a meeting between the Prime Minister and Budha. They argue that such recognition is a modest request given her accomplishments for the country. The lack of acknowledgment highlights a broader issue of how Nepal celebrates and supports its athletes, particularly in less mainstream sports like trail running.

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A state honour or a national award. A formal meeting between the Prime Minister and Sunmaya. Is that too much to ask after everything she has achieved for the country?