Ultra-Trail Cape Town 100km triumph caps extraordinary year of international achievements
KATHMANDU, NOVEMBER 24
Nepali trail runner Sunmaya Budha claimed the World Trail Majors title on November 22 by winning the Ultra-Trail Cape Town 100km championship in South Africa, marking one of the greatest achievements in Nepali trail running history.
Budha, from Pere, Patarasi village in Karnali Pradesh, finished the 99-kilometre race with 4,676 metres elevation gain in 12 hours 25 minutes 55 seconds, winning nearly an hour ahead of the second-place finisher.
The victory caps a remarkable 2025 season in which Budha has claimed five international wins and one silver medal across six races. In September, she earned silver at the World Mountain and Trail Running Championships in Spain, finishing behind USA's Katie Schide while recording the fastest descent of the day, a historic achievement as no Nepali trail athlete had previously reached such a caliber in a World Athletics-sanctioned competition.
Budha's 2025 achievements include wins at Anta Hong Kong 100 in January with a new course record, Chengdu Trail 60 in March, Ultra-Trail Mount Yun in April and Annapurna Marathon 42K in June. She finished third overall among 1,144 runners at Ultra-Trail Mount Yun.
"I have traveled to many countries, but the best place I can train is in my village, Jumla," Budha said following her Cape Town victory. "I have a big team supporting me - without them, it would not be possible to be strategic and consistent. This win is for everyone who believes Nepali runners deserve a future as professional athletes."
Budha's professional development has been guided by the Asia Pacific Adventure Group, led by Team Director Ryan S. Blair and elite coach Andy Dubois. Preeti Khattri, Director of Nepal Trail Series Pvt Ltd and team lead for the Nepali contingent, manages local operations forAPA's professional Nepali trail
runners.
"As countries with strong sporting traditions celebrate their athletes as national treasures, Nepal must do the same - honouring runners not only when they win, but throughout their demanding professional careers," Khattri said. "Athletes like Sunmaya carry the nation's identity, discipline, and resilience onto the world stage. Their presence brings immense pride to all Nepalis- which can be a big advantage for the tourism industry too."
Budha's record-breaking season, five major wins and one world silver, highlights the need for Nepal's sports authorities to shift their focus toward athletes competing at the highest levels of global sport rather than relying on ad-hoc recognition of privileged or well-connected players. International trail competitions, sports experts say, hold far greater weight than regional or domestic events, and Nepal's champions deserve institutional support that reflects this.
