Taekwondo Athlete Yubaraj Rana Secures 'Wild Card' for 20th Asian Games
KATHMANDU, June 13 – Nepali Taekwondo athlete Yubaraj Rana has officially qualified for the upcoming 20th Asian Games, scheduled to take place in Aichi-Nagoya, Japan, from September 19 to October 4, 2026.
According to Kaviraj Negi Lama, a central board member of the Nepal Taekwondo Association, Rana secured his spot after being awarded a 'Wild Card' entry in the Men's Singles Poomsae under the Under-30 (U-30) age category.
Nepal's Taekwondo Contingent Expands
With Yubaraj Rana's inclusion, the number of Taekwondo athletes representing Nepal at the 20th Asiad has now risen to two, spanning across both the Poomsae and Kyorugi disciplines.
The selected Taekwondo athletes for the Asian Games 2026 are:
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Yubaraj Rana: Men's Singles Poomsae (U-30 Category) – Qualified via Wild Card
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Abhishek Baral: Kyorugi (Men's Under-80 kg Weight Category) – Previously Qualified
"Securing a Wild Card spot on a prestigious international platform like the Asian Games is a highly encouraging development for Nepali Taekwondo. We are confident our athletes will put on a strong performance in both Poomsae and Kyorugi." — Kaviraj Negi Lama, Member, Nepal Taekwondo Association
Taekwondo has historically been one of Nepal's most successful sports disciplines at the Asian Games. The addition of Rana to the squad has boosted the morale of the martial arts community, with high hopes for a strong showing in Japan later this year.
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