Eight Karate Athletes Including Erica Selected for 20th Asian Games

May 10, Kathmandu – Eight karate athletes, including star player Erica Gurung, have been selected to represent Nepal at the 20th Asian Games, scheduled to take place in Aichi-Nagoya, Japan, from September to October 2023. These athletes were chosen through the selection competition organized by the Nepal Karate Federation.

Erica, who won a historic silver medal at the 19th Asian Games held in China, will be competing for the second time at the Asian Games. She is the first Nepalese athlete to win a silver medal in karate at the Asian Games. Recently, she has also demonstrated her prowess by winning medals in world-class competitions. Erica has secured two silver medals in the Karate 1 Premier League.

Alongside Erica, experienced players from the 19th Asian Games, Nirupa Dong Tamang and Swanim Manandhar, have also been selected for the 20th edition. In the women’s Kumite 68kg-plus weight category, Erica will compete. Pushpa Lama has been chosen for the 50kg category, while Nirupa Dong Tamang will compete in the under 68kg weight group.

For the men, Rakesh Manandhar will participate in the 55kg category, Min Bahadur Tamang in the 60kg, and Tenzing Sherpa in the 84kg-plus weight category. In Kata, Swanim Manandhar will represent the men’s division, and Sanumaya Thing Tamang the women’s division. The karate team will be coached by Kushal Shrestha and Mandekaji Shrestha.