Sheshuka Rai made her mark as one of the youngest Karatekas in the country. She holds the rank of 3rd dan in Karate and is currently awaiting results for 4th dan. She had shot to fame in 2016 after winning the ‘Sports Icon Nepal’ award. In the same event, she also won the title of ‘The most confident personality’. Sheshuka, who has already won accolades in various national and international tournaments, also dabbles in modelling. Now, at the age of 25, Sheshuka has made a transition from being an active player to being a referee.

 

 Born and raised in a village in the district of Khotang, Rai moved to Kathmandu in 2007. She has been playing Karate since Grade II, and considers her aunt Bimala Rai a major influence. Sheshuka says she maintained a good balance between studies and sports and exceled in both.

 

 “My dad Shukra Bahadur Rai and mom Ishwari Rai encouraged me to take up Karate during my schooldays, although I wasn’t really interested. My parents always supported and motivated me with kind words,” says Sheshuka. Little did she know then where the sport would take her. She enjoys Karate a lot these days and considers it her lifeline. “Winning the Sports Icon Nepal award in 2016 has been the biggest accomplishment of my life, one that I will forever cherish,” she says proudly.

 

 She is happy with the increase in women’s participation in various sports. “Finally, women have started coming out from the confines of their homes, although they haven’t completely overcome the strong hold of conservative ideas that discourage them from playing a sport like Karate. If they get an opportunity, Nepali women can do just as well in sports—or in any field for that matter—as their male counterparts. Karate has helped me relieve anxiety and identify my strengths, weaknesses and potential,” says Sheshuka.

 

 She thinks better coordination among the government, players and trainers is necessary. “The state needs to invest more resource and formulate robust policies to invigorate the sports sector,” she says.

 

 Sheshuka says Nepal’s sporting arena is mostly dominated by football and cricket, so much so that “even when players of other sports bring home trophies and accolades, their success stories go unheard.”

 

 But she is optimistic, both about the future of women and of sports in the country. She is hopeful that more women will take up Karate and that the media will play an active role in promoting and informing the public about other sports besides football and cricket. “I hope there will be more opportunities for our players to grow professionally and get financial stability, and that there will come a day when they won’t have to go abroad looking for greener pastures,” says Sheshuka.