October 5, Surkhet – World record-holding runner Haribahadur Rokaya from Jumla has been honored. The Karnali Yaks, a franchise team in the Nepal Premier League (NPL), presented Rokaya with a cash award of NPR 250,000 on Monday in Surkhet. The award was personally handed over by Karnali Province Chief Minister Mangal Bahadur Shahi. Karnali Yaks stated that the recognition was given in appreciation of Rokaya’s contribution toward raising the profile of Karnali and Nepal at the international level through sports.
Grihendra Ghimire, head of Karnali Yaks, praised Rokaya’s role in elevating Karnali and the nation’s reputation in sports. “It is essential that the new generation of athletes draw inspiration from him,” Ghimire said.
Rokaya has been an active figure in Nepal’s athletics arena for many years. Hailing from Jumla, he has gained national and international recognition and is a former Olympian. He set a world record at the Everest Marathon and recently has contributed to nurturing new runners in Jumla’s younger generation. During the award ceremony, Rokaya shared his dream of establishing a high-altitude training center in Talikot, Jumla. Although he currently operates a training center on his own land, he noted that it is inadequate. “I’m running a center on my own land now, but it’s not enough,” he said. “I dream of opening a training center in Talikot, nestled in the Himalayas, and I hope everyone will support making this a reality.”
Rokaya emphasized that setting up a high-altitude training center in the Himalayan region would enable the grooming of athletes capable of competing at both national and international levels. He highlighted Karnali’s geographical advantages, particularly its high altitude, as ideal for athletic training and urged that these should be utilized effectively. Chief Minister Shahi acknowledged Rokaya’s significant role in promoting Karnali and Nepal through sports. He remarked on the importance of Rokaya’s efforts in elevating the identity of Karnali at both the national and international stage. The chief minister also fondly recalled attending the same school as Rokaya, expressing pride in that connection.
Thanks to Rokaya’s training and inspiration, Karnali has recently produced athletes performing at national and international competitions. Players and coaches have emphasized that expanding sports infrastructure and training opportunities in Karnali will lead to the emergence of even more talented athletes.
