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Nepal finish fifth in SAG

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DHAKA, Feb 9: Nepal completed the 11th South Asian Games in the fifth position of the medals tally. With the last gold by Rajendra Bhandari in marathon, Nepal clinched 8 gold medals. Likewise, Nepal claimed 9 silver and 20 bronze medals in the event held in Dhaka.



India topped the medals tally with 90 gold, 55 silver and 29 bronze medals while Pakistan stood second with 19 gold, 25 silver and 36 bronze medals. Similarly, Afghanistan stood sixth claiming 7 gold, 9 silver and 16 bronze medals. [break]



In the 10th edition of SAG in Colombo, 2006, Nepal had claimed fourth position with 7 gold, 15 silver and 31 bronze medals after Rajendra Bhadari´s two gold medals were scrapped on doping charge.



Karate remained the most successful game for Nepal as it claimed 3 gold, 2 silver and 2 bronze medals. Taekwondo and wushu both games clinched 2 gold, 2 silver and 2 bronze medals each. Athletics claimed a gold medal in Nepal´s tally.



Binita Maharjan (wushu, Thaulo-Tiachi Chwan), Sunil Lama (karate, kumitte U-55kg), Binod Shakya (karate, kumitte U-75kg), Ganga Adhikari (karate, women´s kumitte U-61kg), Aang Babu Lama (Thaulo-men´s taichi chwan), Deepak Bista (taekwondo, U-87kg), Ayasha Shakya (taekwondo, U-53kg) and Rajendra Bhandari (marathon) won golds to add to the country´s glory in the regional sporting event.



Satendra Yadav (wrestling, Above-105 kg), Kumar Manandhar (taekwondo, U-63kg), Purushottam Rijal (wushu, Sansau 70kg), Bikash Shrestha (wushu, Allround Chan Chwan), Anu Adhikari (karare, kumitte U-55kg), women´s football team, Binod Maharjan (karate, kumitte U-60kg), Manita Shahi (taekwondo, U-57 kg), and Ajit Gurung (boxing, 60kg) claimed silvers for Nepal.



Deepak Krishna Shrestha (Judo, 73kg), Rajan Joshi (judo, above-105kg), Debu Thapa (judo, under-63kg), Radha Devi Rai (judo, under-52kg), men´s badminton team, women´s badminton team, men´s team in 10m air rifle, men´s kabaddi team, women´s kabaddi team, Alina Chaudhary (48kg, wushu san-shou), Jharna Gurung (60kg, wushu san-shou), Yan Kumari Chaulagain (taekwondo, U-46 kg), men´s table tennis team, Dana Bahadur Airie (taekwondo U-74 kg), men´s kata team (karate), Laxman Saud (boxing, 51kg), Kushal Shrestha (karate, U-67 kg), Muna Basukala (women´s singles TT), women´s TT doubles and men´s archery team clinched bronzes during the 12-day long sports meet.



Nepal received medals in both men´s and women´s kabaddi in Dhaka and it was the first occasion of Nepal winning medals in international kabaddi.



Muna Basukala claimed bronze in women´s singles of table tennis. It was the first time Nepal had received medal in singles event of table tennis in the last 19 years. Cricket, basketball and handball lost in third place playoffs and created a good image in the region.



However, men´s football, hockey, weightlifting and swimming teams disappointed Nepali fans.



Though Rajendra won a gold medal, Nepal had a poor run in athletics.



Weightlifting, the game which had fetched the most number of international medals and never returned empty handed from the SAG, could not win even a single medal in Dhaka.



Nepal´s gold hope Kamal Bahadur Adhikari, who won gold in the 10th SAG Colombo, faced a wash out in a three-man competition in Dhaka and other lifters too failed to turn the tables in their favor.



Though Nepal succeeded in winning gold medals from martial arts games, Afghanistan came in as strong contenders in the region.



Nepal´s hope in judo came crashing down as the team suffered an accident injuring nine athletes in a lift shaft fall at the Imperial Hotel in Dhaka. Results from wushu and taekwando could not maintain Nepali dominance in those games.



Two hundred and seventy eight athletes from Nepal had participated in Dhaka where they competed for 123 gold and 193 bronze medals.



11th SA Games concludes



The 11th South Asian Games (SAG) concluded in Dhaka on Tuesday. Bangladesh President Mohammad Zillur Rahman formally declared the conclusion of the 12-day long regional sports extravaganza.



The two-and-a-half hour closing ceremony also showcased Bangladeshi culture and heritage. The ceremony also featured performances depicting the cultures and customs of the eight South Asian nations that took part in the Games. The 11th SAG finally ended with an aquatic laser show and spectacular fireworks.



Indian Olympic Association President Suresh Kalmadi took over the torch and the Games flag at the closing ceremony held at the Bangabandhu National Stadium.



The next SAG will be held in 2012 in India. The South Asian Olympic Council had declared India as the hosts of the 2012 regional sports meet last week after the Council´s meeting in Dhaka.



11th SAG Final Medals Tally





































































Country Gold Silver Bronze Total
India 90 55 29 174
Pakistan 19 25 36 80
Bangladesh 18 23 56 97
Sri Lanka 16 35 54 105
Nepal 8 9 20 37
Afghanistan 7 9 16 32
Bhutan 0 2 3 5
Maldives 0 0 2 2



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