Kiwi Drs help bring Para sport to Nepal
Sport has the power to change lives—restoring confidence, building community, and opening doors to new opportunities. That belief took two New Zealanders, Dr Catriona McBean and Dr Cherie Harris, to Nepal on a mission to strengthen Para sport in the South Asian nation. During their time in Nepal, Dr McBean and Dr Harris workshopped strategic approaches in an inclusive multi-sport setting, explored governance styles, showcased wheelchair rugby and facilitated conversations with various disability networks. The pair were supported to travel to Nepal with a grant from the Foundation's Sports Leaders Fund.
Dr McBean and Dr Harris with the deputy secretary general of the Nepal Paralympic Committee, Deepak KC
Para sport in Nepal is still developing. Many organisations working with disabled people focus primarily on medical or rehabilitation services, with little expertise in sport delivery or governance.
The visit by Dr McBean and Dr Harris was in response to a request to restart wheelchair rugby in Kathmandu, with the support of the Spinal Injury Sangh Nepal (SIRC) in Kathmandu.
The pair, both long-time advocates for Para sport, saw this as a chance to share knowledge on strategic planning, athlete pathways, and wellbeing. Catriona is the manager of dsport, a regional disability sport organisation based in Wellington and was until recently, a Paralympics New Zealand board member. Cherie is the executive chair of New Zealand Wheelchair Rugby, co-chair of Blind Sport New Zealand, regional development consultant to the International Paralympic Committee, and Wellbeing Manager for Swimming NZ.
A strategic planning workshop with the National Paralympic Committee Nepal
With support from the International Paralympic Committee’s development programme, a one-day workshop was held with 25 participants, including the entire Nepal National Paralympic Committee board and representatives from affiliated organisations.
“The goal was to get everyone on the same page,” says Dr McBean. “By strengthening governance and leadership, the Paralympic movement in Nepal can grow on solid foundations.”
Wheelchair Rugby Returns to SIRC
The Spinal Injury Rehabilitation Centre, inaugurated in 2002 by Sir Edmund Hillary, is Nepal’s only facility for spinal cord injury rehabilitation. Its 51 beds serve patients recovering from injuries caused by falls, construction accidents, and increasingly, road crashes. Alongside medical care, SIRC now provides vocational training in skills like sewing and embroidery, helping patients reintegrate into community life.
For Medical Director Dr Raju Dhakal, physical activity is central to recovery. He welcomed the New Zealand visitors warmly, arranging for patients and outpatients to take part in wheelchair rugby sessions.
A wheelchair rugby coaching session
Over two days, Dr Harris coached patients, staff, caregivers, and family members on the sport’s basics. Wheelchair rugby is a mixed-gender, full-contact game where players use their chairs to block opponents while trying to carry a ball across the try line.
Learning a new sport with a spinal cord injury is challenging, but with help from translators, players quickly grasped the rules. “The excitement was infectious,” recalls Dr Harris. “It reminded people of what they can do.”
Molten sports equipment manufacturers donated six wheelchair rugby balls (similar in weight and size to volleyballs) to the clinic, ensuring sessions can continue.
Inspiring Young People
Dr Harris with residents of the Spinal Cord Injury Network
The team also visited the Spinal Injury Network, which provides housing and education for young people aged 7–25 who cannot return to inaccessible rural villages after injury. Sport opportunities here have been limited to wheelchair basketball, usually played outdoors on rough courts.
When wheelchair rugby was introduced, the response was immediate: “We want more chances to play,” one student said. Administrators agreed to formally request regular indoor court time for Para sport in 2025 — a vital step in making games less vulnerable to monsoon rains and winter cold.
The Nepal Spinal Cord Injury Sports Association (NSCISA), founded in 2009 by wheelchair users, also welcomed wheelchair rugby as a new addition. Already pioneers of basketball, table tennis, and swimming, the group sees sport as a pathway to “happiness and hope.”
Dr Harris with the Nepal Spinal Cord Injury Sports Association (NSCISA)
Looking Ahead
To compete internationally, Nepal will need a formally recognised wheelchair rugby organisation under the Nepal Sports Council. Early meetings with potential athletes and officials showed strong passion for making that dream a reality.
The visitors were also struck by Nepal’s adapted three-wheeled motorbikes, used by players to reach training. With government subsidies, these vehicles give people with spinal injuries independence in a country where buses remain inaccessible. “It’s a solution New Zealand could learn from,” says Dr McBean.
A Cultural Exchange
The visit coincided with Tihar, Nepal’s Festival of Lights. Each evening, streets came alive with clay lanterns, colourful rice patterns, and family celebrations honouring animals and siblings. Markets buzzed with traders selling flowers, sweets, and oil lamps.
“It was a reminder that sport, like festivals, brings people together,” says Dr Harris. “It’s about more than physical activity — it’s about belonging.”
As Nepal builds on these foundations, the legacy of this project will be measured not just in games played, but in the confidence, friendships, and futures it helps create.
Our Sports Programme provides New Zealand sportspeople opportunities to grow more knowledgeable, connected and confident with Asia.
The Foundation's Sports Leaders Fund is a fund for New Zealand sports sector representatives to establish connections and develop relationships with their counterparts in Asia.
