Wrestling enjoys a distinguished position in the history of sports, being the second oldest sport after Athletics in terms of registration. The establishment of the Nepal Wrestling Association on July 17, 1987, was motivated by enthusiasm for wrestling in Nepal. The association has faced multiple obstacles, as well as being underrated by some people in the world of sports, especially in Nepal. This is a major milestone in this regard. Nonetheless, some wrestlers who were firmly committed have been able to carry the day in such championships, even winning gold medals in the South Asian ones.
President Prakash Kumar Kusari says, “Upon my appointment as the President of Nepal Wrestling Association, I come to appreciate the priceless sacrifices that were made by the previous leadership, the players, as well as the association itself. Even though several challenges confronted them, the efforts they made are what I think set a foundation for probably the most transformative time in the history of Nepalese wrestling. I am committed to ensuring that the people who set the foundation do not die in vain: the rest of the world must get to know how good we are as far as sports are concerned.”
At present, wrestling dominates the southern plains of Nepal. Nepal comprises numerous hills and mountains; my goal is to bring this widely-spread game to them. The cultural practices in these parts present golden opportunities for nurturing budding talents. The association is determined to to produce global superstars in wrestling by introducing it in all schools, villages, and universities in Nepal.
Promoting Nepalese wrestling on a global scale will not only raise the profile of our athletes, but it will also enable us to host global wrestling tournaments in Nepal. These competitions would serve two purposes: enhancing our tourism industry and reinforcing sports relations between us and other countries practicing this form of sport. They will also be used to present Nepal as an active wrestling center by attracting more tourists and building closer relationships among nations.
Our association does not just have professional ties with the United World Wrestling so the association is planning to introduce Nepal to UWW to tackle the most urgent worldwide problems, including sustainable development, global warming, and climate change. The intention of our sports initiatives is to include them in the larger global context positively.
The realization of such a vision calls for collaboration. This will be done through a close working relationship between us, the National Sports Council Nepal, and the Nepal Olympic Committee, so that our strategies are in line with both national sports policies and international standards.
To conclude, the journey of Nepalese wrestling has been driven by tenacity. The President concludes by saying, “We are about to embark on a new chapter, and my pledge is to place our wrestlers on the global arena and harness the potential of sports in the country’s development.”