Palesha wins historic bronze for Nepal in Paris Paralympics

KATHMANDU: Palesha Goverdhan has secured Nepal’s first-ever medal at the Paralympics.

Palesha won the bronze medal in the Women’s K44-57kg weight class of para taekwondo event on Friday.

Palesha, who narrowly lost of No.1 ranked Silvana Cardoso of Brazil in the quarterfinal, contested for the bronze through the repechage route. She defeated Marija Micev of Serbia 15-8 and won the historic bronze. Earlier, she defeated Sophie Caverzan of France 2-1 in the first repechage.

She defeated Valeria Morales of Venezuela with a score of 3-10 in the Round of 16 fight.

“It feels surreal,” said Goverdhan, after winning the bronze. “Most people dream, but don’t put the work and effort to make it happen. I did. I gave my all, I worked consistently. I was focused and disciplined.”

Goverdhan said the dream she had seen when she was 10 years old had finally become a real historical moment.

Earlier, Bidhan Lama had won bronze in the 1988 Seoul Olympics when taekwondo was contested as a demonstration event.