Tamata wins maiden duathlon gold medal

Pokhara, December 3

A day after Sony Gurung claimed the historic gold in triathlon, Himal Tamatta wrote his name in history books after he won maiden duathlon gold for Nepal in the 13th South Asian Games here today.

Tamata bagged Nepal’s first ever gold medal in Duathlon completing the distance — 5km running, 20km cycling and 2.5km running — in 57 minutes and 33 seconds. Another Nepali player, Laxman Malla claimed silver with the timing of 57 minutes and 13 seconds, while Asith Perera of Sri Lanka came third in 59:32.

Tamata was the member of the team that had bagged silver medal in mixed team relay in the 12th South Asian Games held in Guwahati and Shillong three years ago. Rudra Kumal, Roja KC and Yam Kumari Ghale were the other players in the team. Roja KC is the first Nepali player to win individual section medal in the regional meet after she bagged bronze in India.

On Monday, Gurung became the first-ever Nepali triathlon athlete to win gold medal in women’s Elite Sprint category, while Basanta Chaudhary bagged bronze in men’s section.

Nepal added another silver medal in duathlon when Humi Budha Magar came second behind Sri Lankan Iranga Dulagkshi in women’s section.

Dulagkshi claimed gold in 1:05:58, while Budha Magar finished second in 1:08:54. Another Sri Lankan player Udaya Kumari was third in 1:09:09.

After the second day of the competition, Nepal took the tally to two gold medals and one each silver and a bronze.

On Wednesday, the participating teams will compete in mixed team relay event. A total of 18 players — six each from Nepal, India and Sri Lanka — are taking part in the competition that offers five gold medals.

Meanwhile, President of Nepal Triathlon Association Niledra Raj Shrestha, who is also the Secretary General of Nepal Olympic Committee, announced the rewards to the medal winning players. Shrestha said he would reward the gold, silver and bronze medal winning players with Rs 100,000, Rs 50,000 and Rs 25,000.

NTA President Shrestha lauded his players’ performances in the tournament.

“The result is the outcome of long-term investment as I knew returns don’t come overnight in sports,” said Shrestha.

“I announced the rewards from my personal account as I will not hesitate to honour the players who have put in a very hard work since April. And it’s a fact that I am nothing in the absence of players,” he added.

Cricket

POKHARA: Bangladesh defeated Sri Lanka by seven wickets in the T20 cricket tournament at the Pokhara Stadium.

Batting first, Sri Lanka posted 122-6 in 20 overs before Bangladesh reached 126- 3 with nine balls remaining.

Sanjida Islam top scored for Bangladesh with an unbeaten 51 off 45 balls that included eight fours, while Ayasha Rahman struck two fours and a six in her 29 off 35 balls. Fargana Hoque scored 18-ball 23 not out with the help of one each four and six. Earlier, Umesha Thimashini scored an unbeaten 56 off 49 balls hitting five fours and four sixes, while Sri Lanka skipper Harshitha Madavi scored 30-ball 32. Nahida Akter was the pick of the Bangladesh bowlers taking 4-32.

Football

POKHARA: Nepal national women’s football team began the campaign with a 1-0 victory over Sri Lanka at the Pokhara Stadium on Tuesday.

Saru Limbu scored the solitary goal of the match in the 88th minute. Despite dominating the show throughout the match, the home team left it late to score the winning goal.

Coach Hari Khadka lauded his girls’ performance. “The players put up a good show but they found it very hard to penetrate through the tight Sri Lankan defense,” said Khadka.

In another match, two-time defending champions India hammered Maldives 5-0. Dengi Grace opened the scoring for India in the sixth minute before NG Baladevi struck twice in the space of nine minutes.

Baladevi doubled the tally in the 26th minute and made it 3-0 in the 35th minute.

India then scored two goals in two minutes to seal the comprehensive victory. Manisha made it 4-0 in the 87th minute and Jagmani completed the scoring one minute later.

Badminton

POKHARA: Nepali shuttlers Dipesh Dhami, Nangsal Tamang and Rasila Maharjan crashed out of the first round in individual event of badminton tournament at the Pokhara Stadium covered hall.

Dhami faced a 21-15, 21-13 defeat at the hands of Pakistan’s Murad Ali in the men’s singles match. Tamanf lost 21- 9, 21-14 against India’s Gayatri Gopichand, while Maharjan faced a 21-15, 21-9 defeat at the hands of Sri Lanka’s Ratnasiri Kapuru.

In doubles, Prince Dahal and Prafulla Maharjan defeated Pakistani pair 3-1 in the men’s doubles round of 16 match, while Jessica Gurung and Rasila Maharjan advanced to the last eight in women’s section after their 2-1 victory over Pakistan. Likewise, Bikash Shrestha and Anu Maya Rai entered the mixed doubles quarter-finals with a 2-1 victory over Pakistan.

Meanwhile, India won team event gold medals. India defeated Sri Lanka 3-1 in men’s section and they bagged women’s gold with a 3-0 victory over Sri Lanka.

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