KATHMANDU:

Bharatsingh Mahata, a farmer's son from the remote Darchula district, journeyed to Kathmandu with his wife and children to chase his dream of playing para taekwondo. The journey took four long days.

Now, they live in a rented makeshift home in Kirtipur. Despite having only one hand, Bharat works tirelessly at a cow farm made with a loan he still hasn't been able to repay. His mother even sold her jewelry, and he hasn't been able to pay her back either. 'The day I win the Paralympics,' he says, 'I will build a house or at least rent a proper home for my family.' His only survival is selling milk for money to make a living for his family and educating his children.

Every morning, he wakes up at 4 AM, milks the cows, and sells the milk. By 6:30 AM, he is at the training ground, driven by his dream of bringing a medal home for his country. When Bharatsingh was in school, a teacher embarrassed him in front of the whole class because of his hand. The entire class laughed, and that day he felt deeply humiliated. 'One day, 'I will do something great for myself.'

Leaving his education behind his tears turned into determination, pushing him to pursue Taekwondo.

Now at the age of 27, Bharatsingh has been training with the national team for 15 months. He has competed in the Asian selection for the Paris Paralympics in Taiwan, China, and Vietnam. His passion caught the attention of coach Kabiraj, who offered to train him for free. In just a year and a half, Bharat won international matches and secured a Wild Card quota for the Paris Paralympics, though a medal still awaits him. Bharat is grateful to the Nepal Taekwondo Association for providing him with lodging and food, and to the National Sports Council for their support. 'They have looked after me and done so much good.'

Palesha Goverdhan, another Para-Taekwondo player, has qualified for the 2024 Paris Paralympics after winning a gold medal in the Asian Qualifiers in China. She is the first Nepali para-athlete to achieve this milestone. Palesha, also without a left palm, has been a shining star. At the age of 20, she has won numerous medals, defeating players worldwide since she started her journey at 13. She trains with relentless energy and dreams of bringing home a Paralympic medal.

Palesha studies architecture in China and has taken a six-month leave to focus on her training. She recalls her school days when she trained at Satdobato Sports Complex from 5 AM to 7:30 AM before heading to school. From a young age, she was very committed to taekwondo. Her parents have always supported her. She loves reading, drawing, and writing.

Palesha recalls, 'I was always interested in martial arts, and when the opportunity came in school, I took it. At that time, I didn't even feel different from other students. Only when the coach introduced me as differently-abled did I realize I was different.' She adds, 'Football and basketball are easy to understand, so they have many audiences. Though Taekwondo doesn't have a lot of audience, I feel if I do my best, I will be appreciated. Many of my peers fear financial instability. If the government were more willing to help players financially, we would have better results and recognition worldwide.'

The environment for being a full-time athlete in Nepal is still not ideal for many reasons, possibly political or due to a lack of funds. Therefore, there always has to be a plan B in my life. That's why I am studying to be an architect-engineer. 'When you play and perform well all year, but don't do well in just one tournament, sometimes that happens and there's no guarantee that when I am back I'll make the National team again. It's very hard,' says Palesha Goverdhan.

Coach Kabiraj Negi Lama has been training the Nepali para taekwondo team since 2015, leading them to win 10 international medals. Despite not winning a medal in the Tokyo 2020 Paralympics, the team's determination remains unshaken. With the blessings of the Nepali people, they aim to turn dreams into reality in Paris.

The Nepal Taekwondo Association introduced Para Taekwondo in 2013. Since then, Nepal has won 21 international medals but none in the Olympics.

Coach Kabiraj feels immense pride in Palesha's achievements and Bharatsingh's commitment. Despite limited resources, Palesha has defeated well-equipped international players. Her determination shows a strong and unbreakable spirit, inspiring everyone around the world.

'My sweet journey in life began the day I left my village and came here, determined to forget everything in my past and leave all negativity behind and only look ahead,' says Bharat.