Sunmaya Budha stands tall at World Mountain and Trail Running Championships in Spain
Overcoming injuries and fierce global competition, Nepal’s top-ranked trail runner finished second in the gruelling 82K ‘mother of all races’ at the event in Spain’s Canfranc-Pirineos. Nepal’s Sunmaya Budha (left) stands at the podium to receive the silver medal in the Long Trail 82K category at the WMTRC2025 in Spain on Saturday. Photo: Courtesy of Preeti Khatri
Sunmaya Budha had just recovered from injuries in both legs as she competed in the Long Trail 82K category, the toughest of the five categories, in the 2025 World Mountain and Trail Running Championships in Spain on September 27.
As over 100+ trail runners from throughout the globe began the run in the women’s category, there was never a certainty of who would finish first. Katie Schide of the USA was the first to reach the finish line in the 82K category, the ‘mother of all races’ and the hardest and most demanding of all those to be held in the WMTRC2025, with a timing of 9:57:59.
Those waiting at the finishing line to congratulate the winners had to wait almost half an hour for the second-placed runner. As they became aware of a runner reaching close, all eyes were fixed on the horizon. And the face that came up was Budha, who reached the line with the flag of Nepal wrapped around. As she was about to cross the final line, she held it and showed the world the capability of Nepali trail runners.
Ranked 17th in the world, third in Asia and first in Nepal, as per the International Trail Running Association (ITRA), Budha completed the run in 10:23:03. After her was Italy’s Fabiola Conti (10:35:51).
“The ‘Long Trail’ is an 82 Km race and 5.413 metres of elevation gain,” the race details state. “It will be a continuous up and down that will not let the runners rest at any time.”
Nepal’s Sunmaya Budha approaches the finishing line in the Long Trail 82K category at the 2025 World Mountain and Trail Running Championships in Spain on Saturday. Photo: Courtesy of Asia Pacific Adventure Athletes
Budha, in a video shared on the Facebook page of Asia Pacific Adventure Athletes, is seen taking her diet within 30 seconds to prevent time loss, continue the momentum and prove her abilities.
Alongside Budha, four Nepali runners were participating in the WMTRC2025; of them, three were men. They all participated in the Long Trail.
While Budha clinched a silver medal, the other three could only finish the race, which itself is a great feat. Kulung (10:06:25), Roka (10:10:53) and Sherpa (12:33:09) finished 32nd, 37th and 116th in the men’s category.
Two more runners—Arjun Kulung Rai (male) and Rammaya Budha (female)—were scheduled to participate in the same category, but they could not travel to Spain due to visa issues.
Meanwhile, as per the Nepali team accompanying the four runners in Spain, Budha, who was aiming for the gold, was extremely happy to finish second.
Sharing the photo of Budha on the podium to receive the honours, Preeti Khatri, team lead coordinating logistics, branding and national representation for the tournament, asked the Post, “Have you seen anything like this before?”
Khatri added, “[Sunmaya Budha] Standing right beside the USA and Europe. Proud. No Asian athletes have ever made it this far!”
Nayak Paudel covers sports for The Kathmandu Post. He previously worked at the Post (2018–19) and spent over five years at The Rising Nepal. His reporting spans crime, health, education, and social issues.
22.72°C Kathmandu
