Nepal's Negi Lama wins World Taekwondo honour

By A Staff Reporter.Kathmandu, Feb. 4: World Taekwondo has honoured Kabiraj Negi Lama with the Para Taekwondo Coach of the Year 2025 award for his outstanding achievements, at the World Taekwondo Gala Awards 2025 in Fujairah, United Arab Emirates on Monday night.

He was recognised for playing a pivotal role in Nepal’s historic first‑ever Paralympic medal in 2024, as well as guiding athletes to success at the Asian Youth Para Games in Dubai 2025, according to World Taekwondo.

World Taekwondo President Dr Chungwon Choue presented the award to Negi, making him the first Nepali coach in history to receive this distinction.

The World Taekwondo Technical Commission recommended Negi for the honour in recognition of his exceptional contribution to the development and promotion of para taekwondo in Nepal, and the remarkable achievements of the national team on the international stage.

The World Taekwondo Gala Awards are organised annually to celebrate the achievements of taekwondo athletes, coaches, referees and member national associations. 

Negi has been serving as the volunteer head coach of Nepal’s para taekwondo squad since 2015. Under his guidance, Nepal has secured 13 international medals across the Asian Games, Paralympics, Asian Championships and World Championships. His athletes have won three gold, two silver and eight bronze medals.

Among his pupils, Palesha Govardhan claimed historic bronze medals at the Paris 2024 Paralympics and the Hangzhou Asian Para Games 2022, while Sirjana Ghising captured gold at the World Grand Prix Final (G10) in 2022.

After receiving the award, Lama dedicated the honour to the nation and the Nepali people. “I never imagined that a volunteer coach would receive such a prestigious award. This recognition is truly humbling and deeply meaningful to me,” he said in an official social media post.

He expressed gratitude to the World Taekwondo President, the World Taekwondo family and the Technical Commission for selecting him. Lama also extended appreciation to the Nepal Taekwondo Association, the wider taekwondo community and government for their continuous support.

Negi has previously been felicitated with the NSJF Pulsar Sports Award 2081 ‘Coach of the Year’, the Nepal Olympic Committee’s Best Coach of 2022, the National Sports Council’s Para Taekwondo Best Coach of 2024, and honours from both the Nepal Taekwondo Association and Bagmati Province Sports Council.