Wheelchair marathon in Kathmandu celebrates athletes with disabilities

March 17, Kathmandu: A wheelchair marathon was organized at Bhrikuti Mandap in Kathmandu on Saturday morning. The marathon, organized by the Bodhisattvas in Action (BIA), saw special athletes compete in two categories: male and female.

The chief guest of the event was the US Ambassador to Nepal, Dean R. Thompson, along with the U.S. Special Advisor on International Disability Rights (SAIDR), Sara Minkara, who cheered on the participants and distributed the awards.

The winners in the male category were Ramesh Khatri, who secured the first position, Ram Kaji Mijar, who bagged the second position, and Prem Bahadur BK, who secured the third position.

Similarly, in the female category, Aishwarya Kumari Kumal secured the first position, Yami Jhaki Magar secured the second position, and Rajani Rai secured the third position.

Addressing the event, Special Advisor Minkara emphasized the role of sports in cementing the value and dignity of persons with disabilities in society. She said sports can break barriers of ethnicity, gender, caste, and disability that are often seen in communities.

Minkara also expressed her desire to find ways for the US to help Nepal become a regional leader in adaptive sports.