Kathmandu, August 5
Nepali karate coach and international referee Sudarshan Simkhada is a living example that success in sports is measured not by physical height, but by ability, confidence, and dedication.
Standing at approximately 152.4 centimetres (5 feet) tall, Simkhada has brought international recognition to Nepal in Kyokushin Karate while setting several rare milestones of his own.
In 1996, at just 20 years of age, he served as a referee at an international Kyokushin Karate tournament, becoming one of the youngest international referees in the sport.
A year later, at the age of 21, he was appointed head coach of the Nepali team at the First World Weight Category Kyokushin Karate Championship held in Tokyo, Japan. This made him one of the youngest and shortest head coaches at the championship.
Also in 1997, during the 7th Asian Kyokushin Karate Championship in India, he officiated as an international referee at the age of 21, achieving yet another historic milestone.
Throughout his sporting career, Simkhada has demonstrated that ability and self-confidence matter far more than physical stature. Representing Nepal alongside some of the world’s most experienced athletes, coaches, and officials, he has played a significant role in establishing Nepal’s presence in international Kyokushin Karate.
Over the past 35 years, Simkhada has remained active as a coach, training between 8,000 and more than 10,000 athletes. Hundreds of his trainees have gone on to represent Nepal in both national and international competitions.
Beyond sports, Simkhada has also been actively involved in social service and has become an inspiration to today’s younger generation. By turning what many might perceive as a physical limitation into a source of strength, he has shown that even seemingly impossible goals can be achieved through determination, perseverance, and hard work.
His accomplishments are regarded as important milestones in the history of Nepali karate.
