Erika Gurung to Compete in Karate 1 Premier League in China

Erika Gurung is set to compete in the WKF Karate 1 Premier League, which will be held in Leshan, China. Accompanied by a three-member Nepalese team, Erika will depart for China on Wednesday. She will represent Nepal in the women’s over 68 kg weight category. Kathmandu, 24 Chaitra.

Erika Gurung, a historic medalist in karate, is preparing to participate in the WKF Karate 1 Premier League in Leshan, China. The three-member Nepalese team, including Erika, will leave for China on Wednesday. The competition will take place from April 10 to 12, where Erika will challenge in the women’s over 68 kg weight class. In January, she won a historic silver medal at the Premier League event held in Istanbul, Turkey.

The Premier League is held four times annually. According to national karate team coach Kushal Shrestha, Erika currently ranks 11th in the world ranking. Based on 2026 qualifications, she is placed fourth in priority. The three-member team is led by coach Kushal Shrestha, with team manager Ravi Maharjan. On Tuesday, National Sports Council Member-Secretary Ramcharitra Mehta and Nepal Karate Federation General Secretary Dawa Gurung formally sent off the team during an event.

During the program, Member-Secretary Mehta addressed the issue of cash awards that medal-winning athletes have yet to receive, stating that efforts are underway to secure these payments. “Despite winning medals at various international competitions, athletes have not received the deserved cash awards. I am seriously advocating with the concerned authorities on this matter. Among the 18 immediate tasks presented at the welcome program for the Honorable Sports Minister, I had placed the athletes’ rewards as the top priority,” said Member-Secretary Mehta. “In a personal meeting, I also discussed with the Minister that these awards should be disbursed within this fiscal year, and the Minister showed a positive stance toward this.”