By Sachit Subba • Football • Aug 06, 2026 15:14 PM • 69 views
Overseas Nepalese football clubs have raised nearly NPR 1.2 million to support young footballer Ashish Rai, who suffered a severe injury on the pitch and remains under medical care.
The grassroots fundraising drive was spearheaded by Malaysia-based N-Penang FC and culminated in an international friendly series in Penang, which was designed specifically to finance Rai's medical treatment. The series brought the campaign into match play.
The main tournament featured competitive clashes between local and diaspora sides, including Himalayan FC, N-Penang FC, and Australia-based Nepbourne FC. Complementing these matches, a special veterans' fixture between N-Penang FC Veterans and Jhapa Veterans added momentum to the event, with all proceeds channelled directly into Rai's recovery fund.
Match-day actions and community contributions across the series yielded 21,144 Malaysian Ringgit (approximately NPR 784,161). Building on this support, Nepbourne FC pledged a direct sum of NPR 400,000, pushing the cumulative relief fund to NPR 1,184,161.
This joint effort highlights the growing network and social commitment of Nepali diaspora football organisations, turning competitive sports into a vital support system for injured players at home.
