ITAHARI, Dec 28: In his maiden appearance in the National Games, Tribhuvan Army Club athlete Som Bahadur Kumal not only surpassed his own ambition but played a vital role in the departmental team’s dominance in track and field during the ongoing Games.
The 23-year old athlete overcame his own ambition of winning at least a bronze in individual event by securing top finish in the men’s 400 m held on Tuesday in Itahari. In achieving the feat, he clocked 49.68 seconds. Besides this, he also played a vital role in the departmental giant’s gold medal haul in the men’s 800 m and 4X400 m relay to help Army Team hold top position in athletics with 22 gold, 16 silver and eight bronze medals.
APF stood second in athletics with six gold, 10 silver and seven bronze medals while Nepal Police Club secured third position with six gold, four silver and 10 bronze medals respectively.
“I was able to achieve three golds in my maiden participation due to motivation and facilities provided by my club,” said Som. “I am really thankful to my club for this.”
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Som finished ahead of his departmental colleague Himal KC, who clocked 51.86 seconds while Shiva Raj Parki of Armed Police Force (APF) took home bronze clocking 52.53 seconds.
The 23 year Som, who joined Nepal Army five years, ago played football during his school days but he started athletics a little late. He, however, was never a strong competitor in athletics during his schooling days. “I got all facilities required for sprinter after I joined army and thus achieved this success. I feel proud of my achievement,” he said.
Women’s 400 m sprint held on Tuesday saw Army runner Sangita Meche take the top honors with a timing of 1 minute 2.60 seconds. Krishna Chaudhary of the same team clocked 1 minute 4.60 seconds for bronze and Bhagirath Kumari Ale finished with bronze clocking 1 minute 5.30 seconds.
Army athletes took home gold in men’s 4X100 m relay finishing ahead of Central Region and APF, who stood second and third respectively. Army team comprising of Chhabilal Chaudhary, Jeevan Chaudhary, Himal KC and Anand Chaudhary clocked 43.86 seconds.
Similarly, second place finisher Central Region studded with Arun Mahato, Khil Bahadur Karki, Ashis Khatri and Shikar Upreti took 44.76 seconds while APF’s team of Satya Budha, Shiva Raj Parki, Ashis Chaudhary and Narayan Chaudhary clocked 44.85 seconds.
In the women’s 4X100 m relay, Army team consisting of Ramita Chaudhary, Durga Devkota, Sangita Meche and Krishna Chaudhary clocked 52.20 seconds for gold. Similarly, Mid Western Regional team of Pramila Tharu, Jayarani Chaudhary, Bishnu Ale and Rupa Tharu clocked 53.83 seconds for second place finish while APF’s team of Sabita Chaudhary, Saraswati Bhattarai, Shila Chaudhary and Dil Maya Thapa finished third with a timing of 53.88 seconds.
Meanwhile, Gopi Chandra Parki of APF won his second individual medal in men’s 10,000 m race clocking 31 minutes 39.5 seconds. On Sunday, he had overcome arch rival Hari Kumar Rimal of Army in men’s 5,000 m race. Army duo Krishna Basnet (31 minutes 44.5 seconds) and Hari (31 minutes 59.84 seconds), the runner up of men’s 5000 m, secured silver and bronze medals respectively.
APF runner Kanchi Maya Koju, also the gold medalist of 5000 m, secured top finish in women’s 10,000 m race. She clocked 37 minutes 16.90 seconds to finish ahead of Army runners Bishwa Rupa Budha (38 minutes 36.60 seconds) and Laxmi Pandey (39 minutes 32.55 seconds).
Ram Prasad Tharu of Army took gold in men’s 400 m hurdles with a timing of 58.70 seconds finishing ahead of his departmental colleague Bishes Mahato. The latter clocked 1 minute 9.29 seconds while Ramjan Salmani finished third with a timing of 1 minute 2.48 seconds.
Durga Devkota of Army, Sabita Chaudhary of APF and Sabita Shrestha of Eastern Region secured top three finish respectively in women’s 400 m hurdles.
Meanwhile, Yam Sajan Sunar of Mid Western Region was declared the best male player in athletics while Chandra Kala Lamgade of Nepal Police Club received the same honors in the women’s section.
