‘There is still fire in me’: How Abhishek Bastola is battling administrative neglect to keep Nepal’s tennis dream alive

Despite dominating domestic tennis for a decade, playing in the Davis Cup and many big tournaments, Abhishek Bastola continues to fund his own global journey as official support remains non-existent.

On October 25, 2023, while competing at the Davis Cup in Isa Town, Abhishek Bastola was battling more than just Qatar’s top player, Mubarak Alharrasi—he was also fighting a fever and a runny nose. Frequently reaching for his towel between points at the Bahrain Tennis Federation court, Bastola displayed remarkable grit to win the match in straight sets.