Nepali-born para taekwondo athlete Shrijana Ghising has been granted fast-tracked Australian citizenship and is now firmly targeting a podium finish at the 2028 Paralympic Games in Los Angeles — a remarkable turnaround for a 26-year-old who only took up the sport on a whim eight years ago.

Ghising, who first arrived in Australia on a holiday in 2023, became an official Australian citizen at a ceremony in Melbourne's inner-west in June, just in time to compete internationally under the green and gold banner. Her debut representing Australia came at the Gangwon-Chuncheon 2026 World Para Taekwondo Open Challenge in South Korea earlier this month, where she claimed a silver medal.

From Holiday Visitor to Australian Citizen

What began as a short trip to Australia quickly turned into something far more permanent for Ghising. After spending two years living in Burnie, Tasmania, she relocated to Melbourne to focus more seriously on her athletic career.

She has spoken candidly about why Australia felt like home from the moment she arrived, citing the inclusive and respectful culture she encountered — a stark contrast to experiences elsewhere.

"I have experienced a lot of discrimination in my life, but when I came to Australia everyone was very kind, and they did not treat me differently because of my disability," she said. "Everyone in Australia is treated with the same respect. I love Australia, its culture and its people … I came for a holiday, but it became my home."

With her citizenship now secured, Ghising is clear-eyed about what comes next. "I'm so excited that now I am a citizen I can represent Australia in all the tournaments, but the big goal is LA28 … I want to be a medallist representing Australia," she said.

How the Fast-Track Citizenship Pathway Works

Ghising's citizenship was expedited under special provisions of the Citizenship Act, with authorisation granted by Home Affairs Minister Tony Burke. Australia maintains a dedicated citizenship pathway for elite athletes and coaches who wish to compete for the country internationally.

Legislation updated last year strengthened that pathway, ensuring permanent residents who travel overseas as part of their sporting commitments are not penalised in their citizenship applications — a change welcomed by both the Australian Olympic Committee and Paralympics Australia.

The Department of Home Affairs confirmed it works closely with sporting bodies to identify suitable candidates for these pathways. A departmental spokesperson praised Ghising's journey, saying her story "highlights the important contributions new citizens can make to Australia and our international success."

In the 2024–25 financial year, a total of 165,193 people became Australian citizens, drawn from more than 190 nationalities.

It is worth noting that refugee and multicultural advocacy groups have previously argued the rules around citizenship should apply equally to all applicants, not just elite athletes. As far back as 2009, community groups welcomed changes to residency requirements for athletes while calling for equal treatment across all citizenship applications.

Paralympics Australia Welcomes Its Newest Competitor

Paralympics Australia chief executive Cameron Murray extended a warm welcome to Ghising, noting the broader value that para sport brings to Australians living with disability.

"Para sport offers so much to Australians with disability, and it is pleasing that Shrijana is already experiencing its value, which can extend far beyond sport," he said.

Ghising credited her mother and her life partner with keeping her motivated throughout her taekwondo journey — a journey that began casually at age 18 and has since carried her to the top tier of international competition.

For those interested in how Australia develops and supports its sporting talent from the grassroots level, our earlier coverage on what Australia can learn from Norway's youth sports model offers useful perspective on building elite athletic pathways.

With LA 2028 now firmly in her crosshairs, Shrijana Ghising's story — from first-time tourist to silver medallist in Australian colours — is only just beginning.