READ 2B HAPPY

Photo credit: Avia Club, Pokhara, Nepal   MAKE ADVENTURE SPORTS SAFE BEFORE IT IS TOO LATE! By  LB THAPA Pokhara has already carved a niche in adventure sports. Domestic tourists and foreign tourists regularly visit Pokhara for the experience of adventure. Some adventure activities like trekking, kayaking, rafting, caving, mountain biking, and boating have been available for years. But over the last few years, ultralight aircraft, paragliding, zip-flying, and bungee jumping have added extra thrill and adventure among adventure-loving enthusiasts.  The promotion of tourism is necessary for the development of tourism, because it is the backbone of the Nepali economy. The tourism industry alone has provided the largest employment after agriculture in the country. In a situation like this, collective effort is utmost necessary for the development of the tourism industry.  However, it is also true that the line between adventure and accident is very thin. If adequate attention and pre

All photos are provided by Laxmi Magar.   LAXMI MAGAR The first Nepali female cyclist of international fame By LB Thapa Those who have an interest in cycling must have heard Laxmi Magar’s name. Her incredible stamina and phenomenal cycling skills only materialized the other day when Laxmi Magar came to Pokhara to participate in the 5th GREAT HIMALAYAN FESTIVAL organized by the International Mountaineering Association (IMA), which has earned her a huge name and fame at home and abroad.   For a long time, I wanted to meet her, but it could not materialize until the other day when Laxmi Magar came to Pokhara to participate in the 5th GREAT HIMALAYAN FESTIVAL organized by the Mountaineering Association (IMA). The competition was organized on the occasion of International Mountain Day.   Leaving her competitors behind, Laxmi completed the 28-kilometer distance in two hours and bagged the 5th GREAT HIMALAYAN FESTIVAL title. After winning the race, she said, “I’m happy to win the race

All photos: Read 2B Happy. SAMIR THAPA A life dedicated to football By LB Thapa Samir Thapa’s journey to football is full of vicissitudes. Born into a poor family, his parents could not afford a pair of shoes and a jersey. Fighting against poverty, he continued playing football. The only thing that kept his hope alive throughout the years was his self-confidence. He knew well that he was born to play football and had to succeed at any cost.   Here is the story of Samir, the boy who has dedicated his life to playing football for the country. It is his dream to play for Nepal and make Nepal known to the world.  My name is Samir Thapa, and I was born in 2009 in Udaipur, Nepal. At present, I am studying in grade 11 in Kathmandu. Ever since I came to my conscience, I began liking football more than anything in my life did. Football is more than my passion. Speaking of football, it is running all through my veins. Today I am going to tell you what football is for me and about my dedica

Nepali Taekwondo players display their medals won in the 1st Tirak & K.T. M International Taekwondo Championship-2023 held in Bangkok, Thailand.    By LB Thapa Nepali taekwondo players have won medals in the 1 st Tirak & K.T. M International Taekwondo Championship-2023 held in Bangkok, Thailand.   Niru Magar’s dazzling performance in the Poomsae category brought her two gold medals. Her powerful steps and aerial movements left spectators glued to their seats until the end of her performance. Senior taekwondo players have opined that Niru’s Bangkok performance was one of the best ones.   Similarly, Prem Darnal and Bikram Lamichhane have both won one gold and one silver medal, respectively, in the Poomsae category. Rekh Maya Gurung, the head coach at Absolute Taekwondo Dojang, registered a thumping victory and brought home one gold and one silver medal.   Adding more medals to the medal tally, Karun Khand won one gold medal. Similarly, Prabin Bayam and Ramiyong Gurung have won

  Students of Absolute Taekwondo Dojang flash their medals and certificates. Photo: courtesy.  By LB THAPA for READ 2B HAPPY In a recently concluded 1 st NTA Taekwondo Poomsae League Championship , Rekhmaya Gurung, a senior taekwondo coach at Absolute Taekwondo Dojang and most of her students have come out winning medals in the championship.   In the 12-14 age category, the pair of Apil Gurung and Gun Maya Gurung managed to win silver medals. In the group, Poomsae Arik Rana, Arush Nepali, and Bishow BK won silver medals.   Rekhmaya Gurung wins a silver medal. In the individual contest under the 12-14 age category, Pratikshya Rana and Apil Gurung won silver medals whereas Gun Maya Gurung had to satisfy with a bronze medal.       In the individual contest under the 12-14 age category, Liza Pun and Arik Rana won bronze medals. Under the 30-40 age category, Rekhmaya Gurung, senior coach at Absolute Taekwondo Dojang, and Rejin Rimal of Nepal Army won a silver medal.    Suban Gurung, a sta

  Nepal Taekwondo Team finishes runner-up in the international Taekwondo championship held in Hong Kong. Kaski taekwondo players won medals in the 27th Asian Cities Taekwondo Championship held in Hong Kong. Photo: Read 2b Happy. By LB THAPA for Read 2b Happy   The Nepal Taekwondo team has stunned everyone with its scintillating performance in the 27 th Asian Cities Taekwondo Championship and finished the tournament as the runner-up. Four members of Kaski Taekwondo players had also been part of the Nepali team. The two days championship was held from March 4 to 5. The championship was participated by 9 countries.    The championship was concluded on 5 th March 2023 amid a colorful program to show a thankful gesture for all the participants from different countries.   In the Poomsae category, Pokhareli taekwondo player Rekhmaya Gurung, head coach at Absolute Taekwondo Dojang, won a bronze medal under the 31-40 years age category. Similarly, Arik Rana did also bag a bronze medal under

Four Pokhareli taekwondo players Rekhmaya Gurung, Pratikshya Gurung, Deepisha Gurung, and Arik Rana are leaving today for Hong Kong to participate in the 27th Asian Cities Taekwondo Championship to be held from March 4 to March 5, 2023.    By LB THAPA Four taekwondo players of Absolute Taekwondo Dojang will participate in the 27 th Asian Cities Taekwondo Championship. The championship will be held from March 4 to March 5 in Jordan city, Hong Kong.  The group of four Taekwondo players is led by Rekhmaya Gurung who is also the head coach at Absolute Taekwondo Dojang, Pokhara. Rekhmaya Gurung will participate in Poomsae in the 30-40 years age category. And Deepisha Gurung will participate in Poomsae in the 19-30 age category. Similarly, Arik Rana will participate in Poomsae under 12 years age category.  However, Pratikshya Rana, under 12 years of weight category, will be the only taekwondo contestant in the team who will participate in both of the categories: Poomsae and Kyorugi. Speakin

Indian bikers traveling to Nepal with a message of cementing Indo-Nepal friendship. Photo: Read 2b Happy.  By LB THAPA for Read 2B Happy Three bike riders from India have just arrived in Pokhara. Led by Ajay Tiwari from Bhopal and two other friends Jasbinder Singh aka Kaku Bhai from Amritsar and Karan Sodhi from Dehradun have covered over 1102km distance by their ostensibly impressive motorbikes.     Speaking with this scribe Ajay Tiwari, who is from Bhopal said: “Over the last decade or so I have been regularly going for long distance traveling by motorbike. In the beginning, I used to bike alone but later two of my soul mates joined me and now we are three on the road. We are intimate friends and we have a wonderful understanding of each other. Most of the time we travel with our wives but this time we decided to travel without them”.       From left, Ajay Tiwari, Bhopal, Jasbinder Singh, Amritsar and Karan Sodhi, Dehradun.  Ajay Tiwari who hails from Bhopal is now 54 years old and