KATHMANDU, JULY 12
At 35, Kabiraj Negi Lama has become a transformative figure in Nepal's para-taekwondo journey. From humble beginnings as a district-level taekwondo player to becoming the head coach who led Nepal to its first-ever Paralympic Games medal, Lama's path is a story of dedication, resilience, and deep personal commitment.
Born in Makawanpur and now based in Kathmandu, Lama began coaching at schools and dojangs in 2005 while still an active athlete. His turning point came in 2015 when he joined para-taekwondo as an assistant to coach Kalyan Kunwar. After Kunwar moved to Canada in 2018, Lama stepped up as the national coach and never looked back. Under his leadership, Nepal's para-athletes have won 11 international medals - including the historic bronze by Palesha Goverdhan at the Paris 2024 Paralympics.
"Actually, Palesha gave me the confidence of winning a medal in the Paralympics. Watching the Olympics was my dream, and it came true in Tokyo 2020. Although we returned empty-handed, Paris 2024 fulfilled our new dream," Lama recalled. "That medal changed everything for us."
Lama's early days in coaching were marked by a level of personal commitment that went beyond training. "I used to help the players bathe, wash their clothes, even brush their teeth. A coach is like a father figure to differently-abled athletes," he said. "I once quit, but the players asked me to return. That bond brought me back." Though he once explored refereeing, Lama credits his entry into para-taekwondo as the turning point of his life - thanks to the then coach Kunwar.
Outside taekwondo, Lama is a full-time staff member at the All Nepal Football Association (ANFA), where his administrative and computer skills made him an asset. "ANFA has always supported my voluntary work in para-taekwondo. I feel proud to be part of both institutions."
Lama now dreams of even greater milestones: "Gold at the Asian Games. Silver or Gold in the Paralympics. We want to take four players as direct qualifiers to the Los Angeles Paralympics in 2028. These dreams are not impossible - but we need full support from the government and all stakeholders."
Lama has received multiple accolades and recognitions for his outstanding contribution. He was nominated as the Best Coach of the Year at the NSJF Pulsar Sports Awards twice - in 2023 and 2024 - by the Nepal Sports Journalists Forum. In 2023, he was honoured with the NOC Best Coach Male Award 2022 by the Nepal Olympic Committee for his dedicated efforts in developing Para Taekwondo.
Further cementing his reputation, Lama received the Best Taekwondo Coach Award from the Nepal Taekwondo Association in 2024, during a ceremony in Sauraha, Chitwan. Most recently, he was honored with the Best Coach Award at the Bagmati Province Sports Awards in 2025, organised by the Ministry of Youth and Sports, Bagmati Province. He also received the best coach's award by the Ministry of Youth and Sports in 2025.
INTERNATIONAL MEDALS:
| Year | Tournament | Medal |
| 2024 | Summer Paralympic Games, Paris | Bronze (Palesha Goverdhan) |
| 2024 | Asian Qualification Tournament, Tai'an | Gold (Palesha Goverdhan) |
| 2023 | Asian Para Games, Hangzhou | Bronze (Palesha Goverdhan) |
| 2022 | World Para Taekwondo Grand Prix Final, Riyadh | Gold (Shrijana Ghising) |
| 2022 | Qualification Tournament for Asian Para Games, Sharjah | Bronze (Ranjana Dhami) |
| 2022 | 4th Para WT President's Cup, Tehran | Silver (Shrijana Ghising) |
| 2021 | Asian Youth Para Games, Manama | Gold (Palesha Goverdhan) |
| 2021 | Asian Youth Para Games, Manama | Silver (Shrijana Ghising) |
| 2021 | Asian Youth Para Games, Manama | Bronze (Bishal Garbuja) |
| 2019 | 8th World Para Taekwondo Championships, Antalya | Bronze (Bikram Shrestha) |
