Gaurika disappoints again, Rana siblings lose in last 16

JAKARTA, Aug 23: Gold medalist of the 10th South Asian Games (SAG) weightlifter Kamal Bahadur Adhikari has improved all his previous national records at the 18th Asian Games. 

At the JI Expo in Jakarta, Adhikari was successful in making new national records on Wednesday, but was limited to the sixth place among eight players.

In the men’s 69 kg weight category, he had failed to lift the 113 kg weight in snatch in the first try, but succeeded in the second. He had set a national record four years ago in Kathmandu by lifting 118 kg in snatch while lifting a total of 273 kg. He has now improved his national record by lifting 274 kg. 

Likewise, Adhikari, who lifted the weight of 150 kg in clean and jerk in the first try, set a new national record in the second. He bettered his previous record by one kg, lifting 156 kg. After setting a new national record in clean and jerk, he then broke it again by one kg. He then lifted 160 kg in clean and jerk in the first try, successfully creating three new national records. He was successful in making national records with 119 kg in snatch, 160 kg in clean and jerk and a total of 279 kg.

SWIMMING
Nepal’s swimming sensation Gaurika Singh has failed yet again to improve the national record at the 18th Asian Games being held in Jakarta and Palembang. Singh, who was disappointed with her performance in the women’s 100-meter freestyle two days ago, could not better her own national record in the women’s 200-meter freestyle category on Wednesday.

Gaurika competed on hit one category, and she completed the 200-meter distance in two minutes 33.53 seconds. She has the national record of completing the 200-meter freestyle in two minutes 11.54 seconds. 

She finished in a disappointing seventh place among the eight participants and was behind the topper Japan’s Chihiro Igarashi (2 minutes 00.21 seconds) by 12.32 seconds. Singh had left behind Mongolia’s Kherlen Altanshagai by 21 seconds. Along with Igarashi, Hong Kong’s Lily Mei Cheng, who had the timing of 2 minutes 1.68 seconds, also qualified for the final round of the hit. 

Likewise, in the men’s 100-meter breast stroke category, Nepal’s Subham Shrestha also failed to better his own national record. Shrestha, who had set the earlier national record of one minute 11.34 seconds, finished the race in one minute 11.37 seconds in Jakarta and finished third. 

Shrestha was selected as he finished third, while India’s Sandeep Sejwal was also selected for the final round as he completed the race in one minute 2.07 seconds. Also, on the same hit, Shrestha beat Pakistan’s Mohammad Hamza Malik (one minute 13.33 seconds), Maldives’ Ashraf Hasen (one minute 22.12 seconds) and Hais Hasan Hussain (one minute 22.34 seconds). 

Lawn tennis
Nepal’s journey in the lawn tennis at the Asian Games has ended as well. The Nepali team, who had lost all its other events in tennis, also finally lost the women’s doubles category on Wednesday. 

The Rana siblings Mayanka and Mahika lost to Japan’s Moyuka Yuchijima and Irina Hayashi on straight sets of 6-0, 6-0 in the last-16 match, which saw the lawn tennis team of Nepal lose in all events. 

The Rana siblings had entered the round of 16 defeating Maldives’ Irufa Mahir Aminath and Abdul Rashid Jiyina on straight sets of 6-4, 6-1 in the last-32 match 

Wushu
Nepal’s 18th Asian Games journey in wushu has ended following Sushmita Tamang’s failure to win in the chen tuan category despite a lot of speculation that Nepal could win a medal or two in Indonesia. China’s Sinyi Ki won the gold medal with 9.74 score, while Tamang finished seventh in a nine-player event. 

Tamang scored 9.25 and she only finished above Chinese Taipei’s Chisuwan Yu (9.23) and Myanmar’s Sandi Owo (8.70). Likewise, in the same event, Macau’s Yi Li won the silver medal with a score of 9.72 and Vietnam’s Thi Fuong Giyang Hoang claimed the bronze with 9.71 score. 

Taekwondo
Nepal’s Bir Bahadur Mahara has been defeated in the pre-quarterfinals round of the men’s under 63 kg weight category on Wednesday. Mahara lost to Kazakhstan’s player 30-11. Earlier, Shrestha had entered the pre-quarterfinals round defeating an Afghanistan player 24-13. Likewise, in the men’s 80 kg weight category, Nepal’s Bhupen Shrestha was defeated by Afghanistan’s Ramesh Hussani 27-7. Two players will take part in the last day of taekwondo matches on Thursday. Ashmita Khadka will represent Nepal in the women’s under 49 kg weight category, while Gyanendra Hamal will compete in the men’s under 68 kg weight category.

Fencing
The Nepal fencing team has succumbed to a defeat at the hands of Thailand in the last 16 round of the women’s sabre. At the Fencing Hall in Jakarta Convention Center on Wednesday, Nepal lost by a big margin to Thailand 45-10. Kamala Shrestha, Rabina Thapa, Mina Devi Paudel and Ashmita Basnet had represented Nepal in the game. 

Volleyball
The Nepal volleyball team could not start its 18th Asian Games journey with a win as it lost to Chinese Taipei on Wednesday. At the GBK Volleyball Indoor, Chinese Taipei defeated Nepal on straight sets of 25-23, 25-19, 25-15.  Nepal, who is in group D, will take on Korea in the next match on Friday. Only the men’s team are taking part in volleyball in the Asian Games. 

Kabaddi 
Nepal has finally won a match in kabaddi in the fourth game as it defeated Malaysia to keep its qualification hopes alive. At the Theater Garuda, the Nepali team defeated Malaysia 21-17 to register its first win, but on the same day, it lost to Iran 75-21. 

Nepal had lost to the host Indonesia 33-29 on Sunday, while it also lost to Japan in the second match 21-28 on Tuesday. 

Along with Nepal, Iran, Malaysia, the host Indonesia and Japan are in Group B. Nepal will play its next match against Pakistan on Thursday.

Basketball 
Nepal has faced a defeat at the hands of Chinese Taipei in women’s three-on-three basketball on Wednesday. 

Nepal lost to Taipei 19-8. Bhawana Lama and Anusha Malla scored three points each for Nepal, while Alina Gurung and Shreya Khadka got a point each. The Nepali team will now take on Syria and Jordan on Thursday before playing against Japan and Mongolia on Friday.

 
• SouthAsianGames