South Asian Games Recap 5 December
Nepal has beaten its previous record of most gold medals in a single edition of South Asian Games by clinching 36 so far in the 13th edition of the games. Nepal had won 31 gold medals in 1999 South Asian Games, also held in Kathmandu.
The 4th day of the 13th South Asian Games also saw India race to the top of the medal tally with 58 gold medals. India athletes dominated the fields of swimming, wushu and weightlifting with 11, 7 and 4 gold medals each. Indian athletes also won additional three gold medal sin various taekwondo categories today.
The first gold for the host on Thursday came from Nima Gharti Magra edged Bangladesh’s Morzina Akther and Sri Lankan MS Samju Kumari to emerge victorious in Women's Nandao of Wuhsu Taolu.
Mina Glan however had to contend with a silver medal in Women's Taijijian of Wushu Taolu. Sri Lanka's MLDTS Gunasekara won the gold medal.
In cycling, Nepal dominated in cross-country with wins in both men’s and women’s categories. Nepal cyclists went on to achieve podium sweep in the men’s category when Buddhi Bahadur Tamang, Rajeev Rai and Okesh Raj Bajracharya won the gold, silver and bronze respectively.
In women’s section Laxmi Magar and Usha Khanal finished the first and second espectively. The bronze went to India's Pranita Prafull Soman.
Elsewhere, Gaurika Singh, who at the age of 13 was the youngest Olympian at Rio 2016 gave Nepal its maiden gold medal in individual swimming category at SAG. She achieved this in 200 metres freestyle event.Duana Lama won silver medal in women 200-metre breaststroke swimming.
In wrestling, Sanju Chaudhary won gold medal in women’s 59-kg weight group, lifting a total of 171kgs. She beat v in the match held in Pokhara.
Juni Rai confirmed another gold in wushu when she defeated Sri Kankan rival Madumali in the final of women's 54kg category.
In taekwonda, Bhupen Shrestha won a gold medal in male under-87kg category defeating Akshay Hooda of India in the final.
Nepal’s women football team reached the finals defeating Maldives 3-0. Striker Sabitri Bhandari scored hat trick during the game.