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Karate ends SAG journey with 3 gold
DHAKA, FEB 08 -
Karatekas Binod Shakya and Ganga Adhikari made their Dhaka sojourn worthwhile winning a gold medal each in their respective events on Monday to make karate the highest contributor of gold from the Nepali contingent.
The two medals today gives Nepal its third gold from karate after Sunil Lama had opened the account the previous day in kumute in the 55kg category. But the gold count is far too less for Nepal, who had won 14 gold medals in the Eight SAG in Kathmandu in 1999 when the event was first introduced in the SAG.
Shakya and Adhikari also had their share in the same event but in different weight categories. Shakya bagged it in the 75 kg category defeating Sri Lankan Mohammed Nijaj 7-4, while Adhikari clinched it in the women's 61 kg with a resounding 5-1 victory over Jainwa Sajilai of Afghanistan.
The victory meant a lot to Shakya not because he won a gold but he managed to sideline his familiar Sri Lankan opponent Mohammad Nijaj 7-4 with a dominating performance. Shakya led from the first with 4-3 points and added the remaining points in the second round.
Shakya was pleased he could convert his silver of the last SAG in Colombo to a gold in Dhaka. “I am delighted that I have improved my performance to win a gold but more than that I am happy I won a gold for my nation,” he said.
In his playing career so far, Binod has represented the country in the Asian Games, SAG, International Karate Championship in Malaysia and China, but none could match the feeling of winning a gold in the SAG, he said.
Nepal missed out a fourth gold later in the day when Binod Maharjan was restricted to silver after going down to Mohammad Tamim of Afghanistan in the 60kg category.
Former SAG gold medalist Kushal Shrestha, meanwhile, made sure he returned with a medal from the SAG after he won a bronze defeating an opponent of the host nation.
Disappointment from
swimming, athletics
DHAKA: Swimming made a sad ending to the 11th South Asian Games after failing to make any achievements even on the last day on Monday.
Athletics also had a similar story to tell. Arjun Basnet and Rajendra Bhandari will compete in marathon on Tuesday in a bid to save the blushes for the athletics team.
Gurung delivers silver
DHAKA: Ajit Gurung had to do with a silver medal in boxing as he went down to a Bangladeshi opponent 32-17 in the finals. Gurung had advanced to the finals defeating Afghanistan’s Mohammed Ajij. Earlier Laxman Saud had won a bronze for Nepal.
Bronze for Basukala
DHAKA: Muna Basukala settled for a bronze medal after she went down to Madhunika Patkar 4-0 in the semifinals held on Monday. She had advanced to the last four beating a Bangladeshi and a Sri Lankan opponent. Muna later combined with Gita Magar in the doubles to win a
bronze medal.
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