Erica Gurung honored with Rs 100,000 cash prize

KATHMANDU: The Shito Ryu Karate Association of Nepal honored Erica Gurung, a medal winner at the WKF Karate Series One held in Malaysia, in a ceremony at the Nepal Sports Journalists Forum (NSJF) in Tripureshwor on Tuesday.

During the press conference, the association awarded Erica a cash prize of Rs 100,000, while her coach, Kushal Shrestha, received Rs 50,000 along with a certificate of appreciation.

The presentation was made by Nepal Karate Federation (NKF) Chair Yubaraj Lama, Vice Chairs Dev Lama and Majhendra Singh, and General Secretary Dawa Lama.

Erica clinched the gold medal in the 68 kg category at the WKF Karate Series One, marking Nepal’s first-ever medal in the competition.

The association also honored Sanumaya Thing, who has been selected for the upcoming World Karate Championship in Egypt, along with her coach Mandekaji Shrestha.

Speaking at the event, NKF Chair Yubaraj Lama emphasized the importance of keeping coaches updated and creating a conducive environment for athletes to continue winning international medals.

He noted that relying on outdated preparation methods would make achieving medals more challenging.

Coach Kushal Shrestha said that such recognition motivates athletes to perform even better, while Erica expressed her determination to focus entirely on the upcoming World Championship, leaving all negativity behind.

She added that Nepal has been making a strong impression in international karate circles.