Kathmandu, December 5

Swimmer Gaurika Singh claimed first-ever individual section gold medal as Nepal overcame the previous best gold medal haul on the fifth day of the 13th South Asian Games here today.

Olympian Gaurika won the women’s 200m free style event becoming the first Nepali swimmer to claim individual section gold medal in the regional sporting extravaganza. Previously, Nepal’s maiden gold had come in the 1999 SAF Games in Kathmandu but that was in team event when Nayana Shakya, Runa Pradhan, Rubina Pradhan and Stuti Singh finished first in 4X100m Medley Relay.

Singh had created a piece of history in the previous edition of the SA Games in Guwahati three years ago becoming the first Nepali swimmer to win individual section medals — a silver and three bronze. Gaurika, who lives in United Kingdom with her parents, is scheduled to take part in a total of 12 events in the ongoing meet.

On a day when a number of records fell, Nepal bettered the previous best of 31 gold medals won in the eighth SAF Games in 1999. Cyclist Buddhi Bahadur Tamang bagged the 32nd gold medal when he led the host country’s clean sweep in the men’s cross country event at the Martyrs Memorial Park in Gokarna. Nepal had finished second in medal tally in 1999 with 31 golds riding on 14 each from taekwondo and karate.

The hosts have bagged 36 gold medals so far in the 13th edition of SAG.

Lifter Sanju Chaudhary created history after she won Nepal’s first-ever weightlifting gold medal in the women’s section. The 2006 SA Games gold medallist Kamal Bahadur Adhikari is the first male lifter to achieve the feat in the men’s section.

Footballer Sabitra Bhandari became the all-time highest scorer in national jersey after she struck a hat-trick and led Nepal into the final of women’s football with a 3-0 victory over Maldives. She overtook Anu Lama’s record of 35 goals when she opened the account against Maldives.

Cricketer Gyanendra Malla created history after he scored a century against Bhutan on his way to leading Nepal to a record Twenty20 score of 236-3. Malla became the first Nepali cricketer to score a century in SA Games and second overall after former skipper Paras Khadka.

Wushuka Nima Gharti Magar defended her gold medal in Taolu becoming the first Nepali athlete to do so for the first time in eight years since taekwondo ace Deepak Bista won his fourth consecutive gold in the SA Games in 2011. She also became the third Nepali player after Baidya and karateka Deepak Shrestha to win two straight gold medals.