Kathmandu, Oct. 5 -- Nepal entered the 2026 Asian Games with a bold ambition-to win a double-digit haul of medals and at least one gold. It sent 135 athletes across 22 sports to Nagoya, Japan. But those ambitions soon began to look lofty. One after another, Nepali athletes bowed out, including karate prodigy Arika Gurung. There were high hopes from the eight-member Karate squad but by September 23, seven athletes had already been eliminated. Forget gold-it began to look as if Nepal's contingent might return from Nagoya empty-handed.

The only athlete still in contention was Tenzing Sherpa, a little-known 23-year-old from Baudhha, Kathmandu. Sherpa rose to the occasion. He beat Laos' Xayasan Vatthana 9-1 in the repechage and secured bronze...