Prime Minister KP Sharma Oli congratulated Palesha Govardhan on earning a historic bronze medal at the Paris 2024 Paralympic Games. It marks a historic event in Nepal’s sporting history. PM Oli congratulated Govardhan for her effort and success in a social media post this morning, which has made the entire country proud.
Palesha earned the bronze medal in the women under 57 kg Taekwondo event in the K-44 division, defeating Serbia’s Marija Micev 15-8. With her victory, she becomes the first Nepalese athlete to earn a Paralympic medal. “We earned bronze through hard work and determination. This medal is not just for me, but for the entire country,” Palesha stated in a video statement following her win.
Palesha’s journey to the final was marked by determination. After beating Venezuela’s Valeria Morales 31-0 in the first round, she barely fell to Silvana Fernandes of Brazil in the quarterfinals. However, she rebounded in the repechage round, defeating France’s Sefi Carvajal 2-1 to win bronze.
Senior athletes, sports authorities, and fans have filled social media with words of congratulations for Palesha and her coach, Kabiraj Negi Lama. Lama, who has won 11 international medals as a coach, dedicated this Paralympic bronze medal to Nepal, highlighting the talent of Nepali athletes. “Despite her disability and being a woman, Palesha has made a big history in Nepal’s sports sector,” he told.
As the Nepal Paralympic team prepares to return on September 4, Palesha’s victory give hopes for further successes. According to the National Sports Development Guideline-2079, Palesha Govardhan would get Rs. 6.5 million from the government for her bronze medal, with her coach and management also receiving incentives.
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Image source: https://kathmandupost.com/sports/2024/09/01/palesha-goverdhan-takes-nepali-sports-to-a-new-high
