London. Peter Thapa, a Nepali Army officer, has excelled at the renowned Royal Military Academy Sandhurst (RMAS)  in UK and has been awarded the ‘International Sword’, the highest award provided to a foreign officer cadet. According to the statement released by the British Army, Second Lieutenant Thapa has topped the course and received the coveted Sword.

Thapa has become one of the few Nepalis to be able to receive an award of excellence at the Royal Military Academy Sandhurst. Nepali Army Officer Cadets have been trying for a long time to top the courses but had not succeeded until Thapa, who received the award for his outstanding performance this year.

Every year, after the Officer Cadet training at Kharipati, the Nepali Army sends its best officer to Sandhurst in UK for additional military course. This is the first time a Nepali army cadet has won the Sword.  The Sword is awarded to the cadet who tops in the course that year and is considered the best by the Commandant.

Nepali Army Officers Prabin Khadka, Sudhir Mahara and Sandy Shamsher JBR had been awarded the Cane in the 1990s, but Peter Thapa is the first in the history of Nepali Army to win the Sword at Sandhurst.

Thapa is a permanent resident of Dhading District. He had joined the Nepali Army two years ago.