It was the first time in the past 25 years that a Nepali player won silver medal in individual event in Asiad

KATHMANDU, Oct 7: Karateka Arika Gurung on Saturday secured a silver medal for Nepal in her Asian Games debut in Hangzhou, China.

Gurung won the historic silver medal for Nepal in the women's 68 kg weight category of the 19th Asiad held at Linni Sports Center Gymnasium in Hangzhou. She lost to Sofia Berultseva 3-0 to settle for the second-place honors.

Earlier in the day, she defeated Japan's Yuzuki Sawae in the quarterfinals on the basis of golden score after the match ended in a 1-1 draw. 

It was the first silver medal in an individual event that Nepal secured in the Asian Games in the past 25 years. In 1998, Sabita Rajbhandari had secured a silver medal in taekwondo.

The only other silver medal that Nepal ever secured in the Asian Games was in the paragliding cross country group event in the 18th Asian Games held in Indonesia.

Although karate is considered one of the high potential events for Nepal to secure medals, this is the first time that the country won a silver medal.

Since Nepal first took part in the Asian games, the country has bagged one silver and three bronze medals in karate events in the Asiad. Prior to this, Sita Rai had secured a bronze medal in karate for Nepal for the first time in the 12th Asian Games organized in Japan in 1994.

Sambar Bahadur Gole during the 13th Asiad held in Bangkok, Thailand in 1998 and Bimala Tamang in the 17th Asiad held in Incheon, South Korea in 2014 had also secured bronze medals for the country.  

With the victory of Gurung on Saturday, Nepal has so far secured two medals in the ongoing edition of the Asian Games. Nepali team received a bronze medal in women's kabaddi on Friday. 

 
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