Kathmandu, June 23: Uma Kung Fu player Kamal Magar has been honored with a cash award in the United States.
Kamal was honored for his contribution to the development and expansion of Uma Kung Fu in Nepal and for enhancing Nepal’s pride by winning medals in international competitions.
Kamal was honored with a cash award of Rs 274,000 by senior US-based lawyers Khagendra Gharti Chhetri and Siddhartha Lama. Chhetri contributed Rs 12,750 and Lama contributed Rs 68,500.
Kamal was presented with a certificate of appreciation and cash at a program organized at the Champion Martial Arts Club, USA in New York. On the same occasion, New York State Assemblyman Honorable Steven V. Raga honored Kamal with a ‘Certificate of Merit’.
Similarly, Queens Borough President Honorable Donevan Richard honored Kamal with a ‘Citation of Honor’ at the ‘Himalayan Street Fair-Our Fair’ program organized in Jackson Heights, New York.
After being honored, Kamal expressed his gratitude to the Champion Martial Arts Club, saying that such an honor will inspire the players to move forward in their sports careers and urged them to support Nepali players in the future as well. He expressed his gratitude to the club’s president, 11th South Asian Games gold medalist Sunil Lama, and the club family.
At the award ceremony, Champion Martial Arts Club President Lama said that Kamal, known as an honest, responsible and cooperative player, has made Nepal proud in the international arena. He expressed confidence that Kamal’s inspiring journey will serve as a guide for future generations.
Siddhartha Lama, vice-president of Nepal Uma Kung Fu Association, said that Kamal, a fourth dan resident of Dudhkunda Municipality-10 in Solukhumbu, is equally active in the role of trainer and judge.
Kamal has won gold medals at the International Battle of Daytona, USA, European Championships, UK, WMAC Pandemic Games, Austria, 13th World Martial Arts Games, Croatia, 12th WMA World Championships, UK, and 7th World Kung Fu Championships, Thailand.
As a judge, Kamal has served as a judge in various competitions including the National Uma Kung Fu Championship, Uma World Championship Greece, 14th National Kung Fu Championship, India, and Kempo Khukuri Championship.
Kamal has undergone a month of special training at the Beijing Shaolin Wushu School in China, where he has mastered the techniques of Xiangxingwan, Broadsword, Double Section Staff, Nine Section Whip, Kung Fu Fan, Cudgel, and Qigong. Kamal is also the General Secretary of the Nepal Uma Kung Fu Association.
