Striking a Delicate Balance between Sports and Entrepreneurship

Anil Malla Thakuri

Kamal Magar, a fourth Dan Kung Fu player from Nepal, keeps himself busy in training while striking a balance in his roles as a judge and a business initiator.

Magar, who received the fourth Dan in WUMA Kung Fu, a form of ancient Chinese martial arts later developed in England, from the World Martial Arts Committee (WMAC) in Austria, won his latest gold medal for Nepal at the Chinese Creative Forms competition held in Gloucester, England in May 2023. In the same championship, he secured a bronze medal in the weapons form category. Despite countless other achievements, the player-turned-entrepreneur remains down-to-earth about his success.

Lately, he has been busy with training and judging. Last September, Magar took the role of a judge in the 6th WUMA Kung Fu National Tournament in Nepal. Additionally, he served as a judge in Greece in the same month. He is also an honorary member of the WMAC. Kamal recalls it as a special moment when he was awarded the fourth Dan certificate by the WMAC, handed over to him by Tanklal Ghising, the Member Secretary of the National Sports Council (NSC), the executive body of Nepali sports. 

Lately, Kamal has been learning and training in different places. "If I don't participate in competitions, I work as a judge. It strengthens my technical skills. That's why I completed the judging course," said Magar.

He also completed a diploma in Kung Fu from the Shaolin Wushu School in Beijing. After his excellent performance in Nepal, the Nepal WUMA Kung Fu Association supported him in getting a scholarship to study in China. He also took the role of a judge during the 14th National Kung Fu Championship organized by the Uttar Pradesh Kung Fu Association of India in Lucknow. After returning to Nepal, he has been training in various fitness centers.

Magar is also a former Wushu player. He trains in boxing at Lotus Fitness and Kick Boxing Club in Jorpati, Kathmandu, Kung Fu at Sampada School, and WUMA Kung Fu at two other locations. 

"I owe a lot to my coach's teachings. I will always work to produce players for the country. My goal is to use the knowledge I've gained to develop talented players," Magar stated. His first international medal came in 2012, when he won gold in the First International Kung Fu Championship held in Nepal. 

He secured gold in the 45-48 kg Sanda fight category. The years 2018 and 2019 were particularly memorable for his career. Despite limited competition, he had significant success. At the 12th WUMA World Championship in the UK in 2018, he won gold medals in the Weapon Traditional Form and Chinese Form categories. He repeated his gold medal success in the short weapon category at the 7th International Kung Fu Championship in Thailand that same year, though he settled for a silver medal in the Kung Fu fight category. In 2019, he won two gold, three silver, and one bronze medals. He secured two golds and one silver medal at the WMAC World Martial Arts Games in Croatia, winning gold in the 60 kg Sanda fight and short weapon categories. At the World Games in Austria, he won two silver and one bronze medals. Even during the global pandemic, he won gold medal in the short weapon demonstration in an online competition.

Magar credits his success in sports to his sister's inspiration. His sister, Bimala Thapamagar, played an important role in his journey. Magar, a permanent resident of Solukhumbu's Tapting, came to Kathmandu to study at an early age. He studied at Samata School in Jorpati. From a young age, he was fascinated by sports. Watching others play in his village, he wanted to join them. His opportunity came in 2003 when his sister enrolled him in a Wushu Kwan (wushu training ground) near their residence. Under the guidance of Udhav Thapamagar, a Wushu coach, Magar began his training.

Initially unaware of what he was playing, Kamal grew fond of the sport over time and developed a strong interest in martial arts. 

"I loved to play when I was little. That's why my sister enrolled me in the game. My love for it grew as I played," Magar said. "Balancing studies and sports gave me confidence. Everything I have achieved is because of sports."

While in school, Kamal trained in Wushu and participated in competitions, which bolstered his ambition for the sport. "Between sports and other pursuits, I chose sports," he said. "My sister was a musician and taught music, but I chose sports." 

Kamal's mentor, Uddhav Thapamargar, saw potential in him and entrusted him with training responsibilities, further boosting his confidence.

"In the 9th grade, when my coach got busy, I was a senior and took on the responsibility of teaching in the Kwan. Teaching brought a sense of responsibility and motivated me to work harder," he recalled. After completing his SLC from Samata School in 2013, Kamal continued training in Jorpati, Kathmandu. He completed his Plus Two from Campion College and ventured into business, establishing a training center for the British Army and the Singapore Police. He now conducts training at King Gorkha Training Center in Jorpati.

"I took the game and the business together. The game gave me confidence in business. Now, the game has also become a business, allowing me to earn through it," he said. Magar has been playing Wushu since 2003 and recently became a WUMA Kung Fu player. Wushu and WUMA Kung Fu styles are similar, with Wushu originating from China and WUMA Kung Fu advanced by England.