05/07/2026
Kathmandu Xtreme was built on one belief: that a team from Nepal could earn its place on the international stage through hard work.
That belief became reality when Bijay Burja, Nikesh Magar, Manish K C, Nischal Maharjan, and Coach Rabindra Man Maharjan qualified for the FIBA 3x3 Sukhbaatar Challenger 2026 by winning the IB3L Quest.
Days before departure, everything changed.
According to our team’s account, the Nepal Basketball Association (NeBA) did not release the required Letter of Clearance for Nischal Maharjan. We were only informed verbally on Friday night, despite our flight leaving on Sunday morning. By then, there was no realistic opportunity for Nischal to travel or for us to register another eligible player.
To avoid forfeiting our place, Coach Rabindra Man Maharjan was registered as the fourth player solely to satisfy roster requirements. Official FIBA statistics show he played 0 minutes. That left Bijay Burja, Nikesh Magar, and Manish K C to compete with no substitutions.
Despite the circumstances, Kathmandu Xtreme fought until the final buzzer in both games, losing 21–10 to Kaunas VDU and 22–19 to Kharkhorum. Those scores don’t tell the full story.
Three Nepali players stood against full-strength international teams with no opportunity to rest. They played for their teammate, for every young basketball player in Nepal, and for their country.
After returning home, Bijay Burja, Nikesh Magar, and Manish K C were removed from the national team after representing Nepal in Mongolia.
This story isn’t about defeat. It’s about resilience, sacrifice, and teammates who refused to give up.
No one can erase what Kathmandu Xtreme earned. No one can erase the pride with which these players represented Nepal.
This is only the beginning.
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