Kathmandu, December 10
Nepal defeated Bhutan 2-1 to defend the U-23 football tournament title to bring the 13th South Asian Games curtain down here at the Dasharath Stadium today.
Abhishek Rijal and Sunil Bal scored for the home team, while skipper Chencho Gyeltshen scored for Bhutan. With the second straight and fourth overall title in SA Games, Nepal took the gold medal tally to record 51. Nepal had also won football gold medal in 1984, 1993 and 2016 editions of the regional sporting extravaganza.
On Tuesday, Rijal opened the scoring for the home team in the 16th minute with his third goal of the tournament.
Rijal collected a long throwin from Bikash Khawas and made a quick turn to slot home from close range. Rijal had also scored in the group stage matches against Bhutan and Maldives.
Bhutan levelled the scores in the 36th minute silencing the sold-out 15,000 crowd at the stadium when skipper Gyeltshen outpaced as many as two defenders and slammed home past diving goalkeeper Bikesh Kuthu.
Bal restored the lead in the 53rd minute with a header following a free kick from Ananta Tamang.
The football final was followed by glittering closing ceremony that saw a set of 150 drones forming the images of national flag, map, Pashupatinath temple, Gautam Buddha 13th SAG 2019 and its mascot, among others.
The most successful Nepali player of the 13th SA Games with nine medals including four golds, swimmer Gaurika Singh carried the national flag at the march-pass.
Prime Minister KP Sharma Oli addressed the gathering through teleconference and expressed his happiness for the grand success of the SA Games. Deputy PM Ishwor Pokhrel brought the curtains down before the performance from various groups including dances from Nepali Army’s khukuri troop, school children and Guruju Paltan.
Youth and Sports Minister Jagat Bahadur Sunar thanked all the athletes, team managers and officials.
President of Nepal Olympic Committee Jeevan Ram Shrestha handed over the South Asian Olympic Council flag to his counterpart from Pakistan, the hosts of the next edition of SA Games. National Sports Council Member Secretary Ramesh Kumar Silwal thanked all the stakeholders to make SA Games a grand success.
Nepal’s gold medallists
Taekwondo (12 gold)
1 Kamal Shrestha — poomsae (23-29yrs)
2 Sina Maden Limbu — poomsae (17-23yrs)
3 Parbati Gurung — poomsae (23-29yrs)
4 Ayasha Shakya— poomsae (above-29yrs)
5 Ayasha Shakya, Sanji Kumar Pandey — poomsae
6 Nisha Darnal, Swastika Tamang, Sanjila Timalsina — poomsae team (17-23yrs)
7 Nita Gurung, Prasansa Chhetri, Shusila Rai — poomsae team (23-29yrs)
8 Kajal Shrestha — below-46kg
9 Bir Bahadur Mahara — below-68kg
10 Sangita Bashyal — below-62kg
11 Saksham Karki — above-87kg
12 Bhupen Shrestha — below-87kg
Karate (10 golds)
13 Manday Kaji Shrestha — single kata
14 Manday Kaji Shrestha, Mahasus Tamang, Prabin Manandhar — men’s team kata
15 Nirmala Tamang, Sangina Magar, Saru Karki — women’s team kata
16 Laxman Tamang — below-55kg
17 Biplab Lal Shrestha — above-84kg
18 Kushuma Khadka — below-45kg
19 Anu Adhikari — below-50kg
20 Nabin Rashaili — below-67kg
21 Sunita Maharjan— below-68kg
22 Anupama Magar — above-68kg
Wushu (five golds)
23 Bijay Sinjali — taolu
24 Sushmita Tamang — taolu
25 Deepak Hamal — taolu
26 Nima Gharti Magar — taulo
27 Juni Rai — 56kg
Swimming (four golds)
28 Gaurika Singh — 200m freestyle
29 Gaurika Singh — 200m backstroke
30 Gaurika Singh — 400m freestyle
31 Gaurika Singh — 100m freestyle
Cycling (four golds)
32 Rajesh Magar — downhill
33 Nishma Shrestha — downhill
34 Laxmi Shrestha — cross country
35 Budhhi Bahadur Tamang — cross country
Athletics (three golds)
36 Santoshi Shrestha — 10,000m
37 Gopi Chandra Parki — 5,000m
38 Kiran Singh Bogati — marathon
Boxing (three golds)
39 Sangita Dhami — 55kg
40 Bhupendra Thapa — 64kg
41 Sanil Shahi — 60kg
Weightlifting (three golds)
42 Sanju Chaudhary — 59kg
43 Bikash Thapa — 89kg
Judo (two golds)
44 Devika Khadka — below-52kg
45 Punam Shrestha — below-78kg
Golf (two golds)
46 Subash Tamang — men’s individual
47 Subash Tamang, Shukra Bahadur Rai, Tanka Bahadur Karki, Niraj Tamang — men’s team event
Triathlon (two golds)
48 Sony Gurung — women’s elite sprint
49 Himal Tamata — duathlon
Wrestling (one gold)
50 Sangita Dhami — 55kg
Football (one gold)
51 Men’s team
The post Curtain Down as Nepal defend football title appeared first on The Himalayan Times.
Written by Sandeep Sen
This news first appeared on https://thehimalayantimes.com/sports/curtain-down-as-nepal-defend-football-title/ under the title “Curtain Down as Nepal defend football title”. Bolchha Nepal is not responsible or affiliated towards the opinion expressed in this news article.
