Depeak Hamal
SURKHET: Born and brought up in the small village of Chhinchu in Surkhet district of Karnali Province, Deepak Hamal grew up with big dreams of financial success. His initial plan was to join the British or Indian Gurkha regiment. However, fate had other plans as circumstances prevented him from pursuing that path.
Had Deepak joined the Gurkha regiment, he may have become financially well-off but would have remained obscure. Today, he is famous nationwide. Deepak, the second son of Gopal and Setumaya, got this fame and identity from Wushu.
Born in 1992 in Chhinchu of Surkhet, Deepak became fully active in Wushu after completing 12th grade. He has won several medals in various competitions, including a gold medal in the 13th South Asian Games (SAG).
Deepak started practicing Wushu in 2011. Trained by Prakash Lama, Deepak participated in the national competition after only two years of taking up this martial art. “Though I couldn’t win a medal in my maiden competition, the journey began in earnest,” he added.
In 2016, he represented the mid-western region in the 7th National Games held in Biratnagar. He won some medals in that competition. Deepak later won a gold medal in a competition held in Thailand which boosted his confidence and motivated him to work harder.
Deepak announced his entry into the world of martial arts with remarkable performances at the 14th World Wushu Championships held in Russia. Although he couldn’t win a medal in his first international competition, he ranked 20th out of wushukas from 68 countries. He again finished among the top 20 wushukas in the 15th World Wushu Championships held in Shanghai in 2019. However, the 13th SAG hosted in Nepal was the defining moment of his career.
Due to COVID-19, he couldn’t participate in international competitions for two years. After COVID restrictions eased, he participated in the 19th Asian Games held in Hangzhou, China, last year. He was ranked 12th position out of 20 wushukas. Recently, in the 2024 Wushu World Cup qualifiers held in Jian Yien, China, he won bronze in the Nanquan event. “Participation in such prestigious competitions makes me realize I still need to work harder,” he added.
Deepak has qualified for the 2024 Wushu World Cup to be held in Japan this October. He shared that he is preparing not just to achieve success in the competition, but also to validate his and the sport’s credibility. “My goal is to win medals in the World Cup and other competitions. I am training well under the watch of Coach Prakash Maharjan,” he added.
The Nepal Wushu Federation has also assured him of foreign training. “This has motivated me further. Foreign training will help me produce better results in international competitions,” he adds.
Two Federations Creating Problems
Deepak said the existence of two federations for the same sport is creating problems for athletes. There are two wushu federations in Nepal. The one led by Janak Bartaula is recognized by the National Sports Council, while the other, headed by Bir Bahadur Lama, is recognized by the Nepal Olympic Committee and the International Wushu Federation.
“Having two federations causes difficulties for the athletes. There is confusion over which association to approach for what matters,” he says. “The internationally recognized federation has always assured support to the athletes. But the existence of two bodies still creates problems.”
Proud to Represent Karnali
Deepak has been participating in national competitions representing the Karnali Province. He feels proud to represent the province where he was born. “It gives me pride to be able to represent the place of my birth. I have received many offers to play for departmental teams. But I have decided to continue playing for my province rather than any department,” he said. “I have never joined any department team. There are many difficulties for non-departmental players, the biggest being financial constraints.”
Although satisfied with his sporting life, Deepak complains about not receiving the services and facilities he should be entitled to from the government. “The government only makes promises. It would be easier to progress if they provided services and facilities considering the athletes’ future,” he says.
Deepak is participating in a special training conducted by the National Sports Council. The council provides him with a food allowance for the morning. But he says that allowance is not sufficient to sustain himself while training in Kathmandu.
Deepak’s family consists of four members, including his elder sister. He spent his childhood near the Bheri River. He studied up to 5th grade at the nearby Amilachour Primary School and passed 10th grade from Sharada Secondary School in Chhinchu Bazaar. After completing his SEE (School Leaving Certificate), he went to Kathmandu and prioritized sports after 12th grade. He has already spent 13 years in the field of sports.
