Anjan Dhamala rises from national athlete to global taekwondo leader

KATHMANDU, May 28: Anjan Dhamala, a former national Taekwondo athlete from Nepal, has established a significant international career in sports administration and martial arts governance after rising from modest beginnings in Gorkha.

Born in Gorkha, Dhamala grew up in an economically constrained environment and later moved to Kathmandu after completing his School Leaving Certificate (SLC). His journey in sports began after relocating to the capital, where he was introduced to Taekwondo during his student life.

He initially trained in WTF Taekwondo under Olympic-level coach Man Bahadur Tamang before shifting his focus to ITF Taekwondo, which became his primary sporting discipline. Through dedication and consistent training, he quickly rose to national prominence, winning gold medals in early national-level competitions.

Dhamala began his international sporting career in 2008, participating in tournaments held in countries including the United Kingdom, Singapore, Bulgaria, Australia, Thailand, the United Arab Emirates, Malaysia, and China.

Over time, he transitioned from athlete to coach, referee, and technical official. He later served as referee chairperson in South Asian ITF Taekwondo bodies and continued expanding his involvement in sports administration.

In recognition of his contributions, Dhamala received international honors including a citation diploma in 2015 and the Outstanding Instructor Award from the International Taekwondo Federation in 2019. He has also served in key roles within the National Sports Council (NSC) of Nepal.

During his tenure at NSC, he contributed to sports policy development, athlete support systems, and international sports coordination. He has also been involved in organizing international Taekwondo events in Nepal and expanding the sport across the country.

Currently, Dhamala serves as President of the Nepal ITF Taekwondo Federation, Vice President of the Asian Taekwondo Federation, and holds leadership positions in South Asian Taekwondo bodies. He is also active in promoting esports in Nepal.

Despite opportunities abroad, he chose to remain in Nepal and focus on sports development. His long-term vision is to establish Nepal as a regional hub for Taekwondo training and to host world-class international championships in the country.

Dhamala’s journey reflects resilience and transformation—from a rural student with limited resources to an international sports leader contributing to policy, development, and global representation of Nepali Taekwondo.