Kabiraj Negi Lama was awarded the Para Taekwondo Coach of the Year award at the World Taekwondo 2025 Gala Awards in Fujairah, United Arab Emirates, on Monday night.

“Kabiraj Negi Lama of Nepal was awarded with the Para Taekwondo Coach of the Year award after playing a key role in the country’s historic first-ever Paralympic medal in 2024, as well as their bronze medal at the Asian Youth Para Games Dubai 2025,” the World Taekwondo stated.

Lama was the coach of Palesha Goverdhan, who won a bronze medal at the Paris Paralympics in 2024. It was again the duo of Lama and Goverdhan that won a bronze at the Asian Youth Para Games Dubai 2025.

“It is an honour to receive this prestigious award,” Lama told the Post over a phone call. “All thanks to the hands that have supported me to date.”

Lama is the first Nepali to be awarded at the World Taekwondo Gala Awards.

Lama has been working voluntarily as the coach of Nepal’s para-taekwondo team since 2015. Since then, his trainees have clinched 13 international medals—three gold, two silver and eight bronze medals—in tournaments ranging from Asian Games to Paralympics alongside World Championships.

Meanwhile, Belgium’s Sarah Chaâri was crowned Female Athlete of the Year, while Henrique Marques Rodrigues Fernandes of Brazil received the Male Athlete of the Year award.

Similarly, China’s Yujie Li was named Para Taekwondo Female Athlete of the Year, and Ayoub Adouich of Morocco received the Para Taekwondo Male Athlete of the Year.

Likewise, Ivan Penava of Croatia was named Male Referee of the Year, while Ji Hyun Yeom of Korea received the Female Referee of the Year award.

The Coach of the Year honour went to Hechmi Jendoubi of Tunisia, and the Kick of the Year Award was presented to CJ Nickolas of the USA.