By Sachit Subba ⢠Other Sports ⢠Dec 19, 2025 13:07 PM ⢠36 views
The Nepal Olympic Committee (NOC) has announced a new scholarship program to support 14 athletes aiming for the 2028 Los Angeles Olympics, the 2026 Asian Games, and the 2026 Youth Olympics.
This move changes how the NOC supports top athletes, using both international grants and restructured internal funds to focus more on athlete training than on administration.
The Financial Breakdown
At the function held in Kathmandu, the NOC confirmed that eight athletes aiming for the LA28 Summer Games have joined the Olympic Solidarity program. Each will get a monthly stipend of USD 1,125 (about NPR 1.5 Lakhs) for training, nutrition, and equipment. This support begins on September 1, 2025, and continues through the end of the Los Angeles Games. For the 2026 Aichi-Nagoya Asian Games, and one hopeful for the 2026 Dakar Youth Olympics will receive Rs 50,000 monthly. This domestic funding begins on January 1, 2026.
NOC President Jeevan Ram Shrestha revealNOC President Jeevan Ram Shrestha said the committee cut its own administrative costs to make more funds available for the Asian Games team.r the Asian Games and Youth Olympics athletes by reducing our administrative expenses," President Shrestha stated. "If possible, we will look to include more athletes in this bracket in the coming days."
Merit-Based Selection
President Shrestha explained that the selection of the Olympic Solidarity grant was based on merit.
"The eight athletes for the LA Olympics were selected based strictly on performance," he said. "We requested national sports associations to recommend their best athletesâthose with the highest probability of clinching medals. Olympic Solidarity vetted these recommendations before final approval."
NOC Secretary General Rajiv Shrestha added that the injection of funds is expected to yield tangible results on the biggest stages. "We expect this support to help our athletes train better and realize their dreams of winning medals," he said.
The Athletes: A Blend of Experience and Prodigy
The group includes both experienced Olympians and newcomers making their debut.
Headlining the Asian Games contingent is boxer Chandra Bahadur Thapa, fresh off a hisLeading the Asian Games team is boxer Chandra Bahadur Thapa, who recently won a historic bronze at the 2025 IBA Men's World Boxing Championships, Nepal's first world boxing medal. Also on the team is karateka Arika Gurung, who earned silver at the 2022 Asian Games, and Manita Shrestha Pradhan (Judo), both of whom competed at the Paris 2024 Games, have retained their spots.
Perhaps one standout is 14-year-old tennis player Shivali Gurung. She is the youngest scholarship recipient and the first Nepali to qualify for a Grand Slam event, the 2026 Australian Open. The tennis star Evana Thapa, reflecting the group's sentiment, expressed her determination during the event. "I will not let down the country that has believed in me," she said. "This scholarship will change how I train."
SCHOLARSHIP RECIPIENTS: THE SQUAD PROFILES
Target: Los Angeles 2028 Olympics (USD 1,125/Month)
Prince Dahal (Badminton): A Paris 2024 Olympian and former World No. 1 junior. Currently training in Malaysia, the southpaw was a silver medalist at the South Asia U21 Regional Championship.
Usha Khanal (Cycling): The reigning downhill and XCO National Champion. A silver medalist at the 2019 South Asian Games (SAG), she missed the ceremony while competing at the National Mountain Bike Championship.
Sadbhav Acharya (Golf): Nepalâs No. 1 amateur. Acharya made waves in January by becoming the first Nepali to win the Bangladesh Amateur Open.
Manita Shrestha Pradhan (Judo): A Paris 2024 Olympian and 2017 Asian Cadet bronze medalist. She remains one of Nepalâs most consistent international performers.
Evana Thapa (Table Tennis): A dominant force domestically, Thapa reached the semi-finals of the Paris 2024 qualifiers and recently bagged multiple medals at the South Asian Youth Championship.
Shivali Gurung (Tennis): At just 14, she is ranked fourth in Asia (U14). She has been selected for the ITF/ATF European development team and is set to play at the Australian Open.
Tenzing Bertin Rai (Sports Climbing): Known as "Tintin," Rai is the 2025 National Sport Climbing Champion and a multiple-time winner in Open Lead Climbing.
Ervin Shrestha (Swimming): The country's top-ranked swimmer with experience at the FINA World Short Course Championships and World Aquatics Championships.
Target: 2026 Asian Games (Rs 50,000/Month)
Chandra Bahadur Thapa (Boxing): The man of the moment. Thapa secured a historic bronze at the World Boxing Championships in December 2025, raising hopes for a medal in Japan.
Arika Gurung (Karate): One of Nepalâs most decorated modern athletes, boasting a 2022 Asian Games silver and a historic Karate-1 Premier League bronze.
Tilak Pun Magar (Archery): A veteran archer representing Nepal since 2018, competing in two Asian Games and aiming for a third.
Sanumaya Thing (Karate): A Kata specialist and two-time South Asian champion who secured bronze at the 2023 World Shito-Ryu Championship.
Sushmita Tamang (Wushu): A Taolu prodigy and SAG gold medalist. She recently cracked the Top 8 at the World Wushu Championship in Brazil.
Target: 2026 Youth Olympics (Rs 50,000/Month)
Rashmi Tamang (Wushu): Described by the NOC as a "proud ambassador" of Nepali martial arts, Rashmi will carry the flag for the next generation in Dakar, Senegal.
