Nepal Taekwondo Association
The Nepal Taekwondo Association is the governing body for Taekwondo and Para Taekwondo in Nepal. NTA organizes national and international competitions, enabling Nepali taekwondo athletes to participate in international events. Additionally, the Nepal Taekwondo Association promotes the development and expansion of Taekwondo in schools and dojangs across districts within Nepal's provinces. The current President of NTA is Deep Raj Gurung, and its headquarter is located in the International Sports Complex in Lalitpur, Nepal.
Since the establishment of the National Sports Council (Nepal) in 1959, Nepalese athletes made their Olympic Games debut at the 1964 Summer Olympics and their Paralympic Games debut at the 2004 Summer Paralympics. However, Nepal had never secured an official medal in either event—until Palesha Goverdhan, an athlete from the Nepal Taekwondo Association, made history by winning a bronze medal at the Paris 2024 Paralympic Games. This historic achievement marked Nepal’s first-ever official medal in the Olympic Games or Paralympic Games, placing the country on the Paralympic medal tally for the very first time. For this historic and remarkable achievement, Palesha Goverdhan was awarded by the Nepalese prime minister KP Oli on behalf of the Government of Nepal on 13 September 2024.
Nepali Taekwondo History
In 1983, Nepal Taekwondo was officially recognized as a discipline under the leadership of the late Sharad Chandra Shah, who served as the member secretary of the National Sports Council (Nepal). This decision was made in collaboration with two Martial Arts Associations.Prior to this, Grand Master Deep Raj Gurung, the founder of Taekwondo and current President of the Nepal Taekwondo Association, initiated the public demonstration of Taekwondo for the first time in Nepal. He subsequently provided training to a group, at a time when martial arts were not widely accessible in the country.
Initially, Nepali citizens were restricted from practicing or training in Taekwondo. However, after the successful demonstration by Grand Master Deep Raj Gurung, the benefits of Taekwondo training became apparent. As a result, Taekwondo was introduced to the disciplinary forces such as the Nepal Police and Nepal Army. Eventually, it was embraced as a martial art open to all Nepalese citizens.
In 1983, the Nepal Taekwondo Association was formally registered with both the National Sports Council (Nepal) and World Taekwondo.
Nepal Taekwondo achievements
In Olympic Games, World Taekwondo Championships, Asian Games and Asian Taekwondo Championships.Nepal ParaTaekwondo achievements
In Paralympic Games, World Para Taekwondo Championships, Asian Para Games and Asian Para Taekwondo Championships.Affiliated Province Taekwondo Associations
The following district taekwondo associations are affiliated to the Nepal Taekwondo Association.| Province Association | Province | Affiliate District Association | President |
| Koshi Province Taekwondo Association | Koshi Province |
| |
| Madhesh Province Taekwondo Association | Madhesh Province | ||
| Bagmati Province Taekwondo Association | Bagmati Province | ||
| Gandaki Province Taekwondo Association | Gandaki Province | ||
| Lumbini Province Taekwondo Association | Lumbini Province | ||
| Karnali Province Taekwondo Association | Karnali Province | ||
| Sudurpashchim Province Taekwondo Association | Sudurpashchim Province |
Notable people
- Deep Raj Gurung is the founding Grandmaster of Nepal Taekwondo
- Palesha Goverdhan is a Nepali para taekwondo practitioner. She competed at the 2020 Summer Paralympics and 2024 Summer Paralympics and won a bronze medal, becoming the first Nepalese athlete to win a medal at the Paralympics.
- Bidhan Lama - He won bronze medals at the 1986 Asian Games, 1987 World Taekwondo Championships and at the 1988 Summer Olympics
- Manbahadur Tamang was a Nepalese taekwondo practitioner. He competed in the men's featherweight at the 1988 Summer Olympics
- Narayan Gurung was a Nepalese taekwondo practitioner. He competed at the 1992 Summer Olympics
- Sita Kumari Rai (taekwondo) was a Nepalese taekwondo practitioner. She competed at the 1992 Summer Olympics
- Pramila Thapa was a Nepalese taekwondo practitioner. She competed at the 1992 Summer Olympics
- Sangina Baidya was a Nepalese taekwondo practitioner. She competed at the 2004 Summer Olympics
- Deepak Bista was a Nepalese taekwondo practitioner. He competed at the 2008 Summer Olympics
- Nisha Rawal (taekwondo) was a Nepalese taekwondo practitioner. She competed at the 2016 Summer Olympics
- Raj Kumar Rai was a Nepalese taekwondo practitioner.
- Ram Bahadur Ghachhe was a Nepalese taekwondo practitioner.
- Raj Kumar Buchhe was a Nepalese taekwondo practitioner.
- Man Bahadur Shahi was a Nepalese taekwondo practitioner.
- Sabita Rajbhandari was a Nepalese taekwondo practitioner.
- Sapana Malla was a Nepalese taekwondo practitioner.
- Kishor Shrestha was a Nepalese taekwondo practitioner.
- Renuka Magar was a Nepalese taekwondo practitioner.
- Ritu Jimee Rai was a Nepalese taekwondo practitioner.
- Manita Shahi was a Nepalese taekwondo practitioner.
- Ayasha Shakya was a Nepalese taekwondo practitioner.
- Mohan Kumar Rai was a Nepalese taekwondo practitioner.
- Sima Khadka was a Nepalese taekwondo practitioner.
- Rita Shrestha was a Nepalese taekwondo practitioner.
- Mira Thapa was a Nepalese taekwondo practitioner.
- Laxmi Gurung was a Nepalese taekwondo practitioner.
- Manju Tuladhar was a Nepalese taekwondo practitioner.
- Yadav Kunwar was a Nepalese para taekwondo practitioner.
- Arun Shakya was a Nepalese para taekwondo practitioner.
- Ranjana Dhami was a Nepalese para taekwondo practitioner.
- Sita Bhandari was a Nepalese para taekwondo practitioner.
- Rohit Hang Rai was a Nepalese para taekwondo practitioner.
- Bikram Shrestha is a Nepalese para taekwondo practitioner.
- Shrijana Ghising was a Nepalese para taekwondo practitioner.
- Bishal Garbuja was a Nepalese para taekwondo practitioner.
- Kabiraj Negi Lama is a notable figure in Nepalese Para Taekwondo and a successful coach who has made significant contributions to the sport in Nepal.
- Ashmita Khadka was a Nepalese taekwondo practitioner.
- Bharat Singh Mahata is a Nepali para taekwondo practitioner. He competed at the 2024 Summer Paralympics.