KATHMANDU, Sept 22: Four Nepali athletes are set to participate in the third edition of the World Mountain and Trail Run Championship in Spain.
The competition organized by World Athletics will see Suman Kulung, Sange Sherpa, Man Kumar Roka, and Sunmaya Budha representing Nepal. The event will take place in Canfranc, Spain, from September 24 to 29. Although the full team could not attend due to visa issues, Nepal’s top-ranked trail runners will compete on the world stage. Kulung, Nepal’s number one male athlete, also holds the top ranking in Asia, while Budha, the country’s top female athlete, is ranked third in Asia.
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All four athletes will compete in the single long-distance trail run event. Team manager Preeti Khatri said the athletes were selected based on international standards. “The primary criterion was the ITRA ranking. The selection process aligns with standards followed in Germany and other participating countries, where male athletes needed a score above 860 to qualify. The top three male and female athletes were selected,” Khatri explained. “Our athletes secured their places based on exceptional performance and world-class rankings.”
The Nepal Adventure Running Federation (NARF) President, Ekendra Kunwar, said Nepali athletes competing at the global level is a matter of pride for the nation. “Through adventure running, a unique sport, Nepali athletes are once again representing the country on the world stage and showcasing their challenges,” he said. “The Federation continues to work on building infrastructure and improving international access to support Nepali athletes’ world-class performances.”
