Nepali Female Wrestlers Achieve World Record by Competing at Tilicho Lake

Nepali female professional wrestlers Bhagawati Khadka, known as Unika, and Asmita Sunar, known as Jureli, have secured a potential Guinness World Record by hosting a wrestling event at Tilicho Lake, recognized as one of the world’s highest-altitude lakes. The event, organized by the Nepal Women Wrestling Foundation (NWWF) on Wednesday, aims to promote both the sport and Nepal’s global presence.

The high-altitude wrestling match took place in a specially constructed ring near Tilicho Lake in Ward 9 of Neshyang Rural Municipality, Manang. The main bout featured Unika and Jureli competing against American wrestler Camille Coletti Liggon, also known as Holliday. Both Nepali wrestlers emerged victorious, securing the accomplishment intended for the world record.

The event’s referee was Krishna Magar, famously known as the Sindhupalchowk Tiger, who also participated in a separate match. Magar triumphed over Nepali wrestler Loku Singh in the second match of the program.

Wrestling, a sport that gained widespread global traction after emerging from venues like Las Vegas in the 1980s, now commands a global audience of nearly half a billion viewers across over 150 countries. Nepal has a significant following for the sport, with a dedicated community of local athletes striving for international recognition.

This achievement marks the second attempt by Bhagawati Khadka to set a world record for high-altitude wrestling. She previously competed at Kalapathar, situated at an altitude of 5,644 meters, in May 2024, where she defeated American wrestler Danielle Morrison (Dany Mo). The Tilicho Lake event was attended by local dignitaries, including Neshyang Rural Municipality Chairman Kanchan Ghale and Manang Chief District Officer Nabaraj Poudel.