Nepali ultra-marathoner claims World Trail Majors title

Nepal’s ultra-marathoner Sunmaya Budha won her fifth gold medal of 2025 at the Ultra-Trail Cape Town 100km championship in South Africa on 22 November and claimed the World Trail Majors title, marking one of the biggest achievements ever recorded by a Nepali trail runner. 

Budha completed the 99km trail with an elevation gain of 4,676m in 12 hours 25 minutes and 55 seconds, and was nearly an hour ahead of her second-placed competitor. 

The 27-year-old trail endurance runner has ran six races in 2025, and has been racking up outstanding performances across the world. 

In September, Budha earned a silver medal at the 3rd World Mountain and Trail Running Championships, becoming the first Asian athlete to have ever finished that high in the Long Trail competition at the World Championships. 

Additionally, Budha claimed gold medals at the Anta Hong Kong 100 in January, the Chengdu Trail 60 in March, the Ultra-Trail Mount Yun 30K in April and Annapurna Marathon 42K in June.

Budha comes from a farming family in Nepal’s remote Jumla district, and trained as an ultra marathoner on Nepal’s rugged mountain terrain. 

"I have traveled to many countries, but the best place I can train is in my village, Jumla," Budha said following her victory last week. "I have a big team supporting me — without them, it would not be possible to be strategic and consistent. This win is for everyone who believes Nepali runners deserve a future as professional athletes."

The athlete is part of the Asia Pacific Adventure Group, led by team director Ryan S. Blair and coach Andy Dubois. She is ranked world 8th for 100km category events and 17th in the world by the International Trail Running Association (ITRA).

"As countries with strong sporting traditions celebrate their athletes as national treasures, Nepal must do the same — honouring runners not only when they win, but throughout their demanding professional careers," says Preeti Khattri, Director of Nepal Trail Series Pvt Ltd and team lead for the Nepali contingent, who manages local operations for APA's professional Nepali trail runners. 

She added: "Athletes like Sunmaya carry the nation's identity, discipline, and resilience onto the world stage. Their presence brings immense pride to all Nepalis- which can be a big advantage for the tourism industry too." 

SUNMAYA BUDHA - 2025 SEASON 

1. Anta Hong Kong 100 (18 January) 

● Distance: 102km, 4,882m elevation gain 

● Result: 1st place (Winner) 

● Time: 11:11:47 

● New course record (27 minutes faster than previous record) 

2. Chengdu Trail 60 (29 March) 

● Distance: 58.2km, 2,650m elevation gain 

● Result: 1st place (Winner) 

● Time: 05:41:48 

● Overall: 9th out of 926 runners 

3. Ultra-Trail Mount Yun by UTMB - 30K (20 April) 

● Distance: 29.7km, 1,751m elevation gain 

● Result: 1st place (Winner) 

● Time: 03:10:12 

● Overall: 3rd out of 1,144 runners 

4. Annapurna Marathon 42K (3 June) 

● Distance: 42 km 

● Result: 1st place (Winner) 

5. World Mountain and Trail Running Championships - Long Trail (27 September) 

● Location: Canfranc-Pirineos, Spain 

● Distance: 82 km, 5,413m elevation gain 

● Result: 2nd place (Silver Medal) 

● Time: 10:23:03 

● Winner: Katie Schide (USA) - 9:57:59 

6. Ultra-Trail Cape Town 100k (22 November) 

● Distance: 99km, 4,676m elevation gain

● Result: 1st place (Winner) - World Trail Majors Champion 

● Time: 12:25:55 

● Nearly one hour ahead of 2nd place