APF athletes Parki, Koju win 5,000m races
Sunsari, December 25
Nepal APF Club’s Gopi Chandra Parki and Kanchhi Maya Koju claimed gold medals in the 5,000 meters race under the seventh National Games here at the Itahari Stadium today.
In the men’s event, Parki clocked 15 minutes and 26.10 seconds to finish the race in first position. He was just 0.50 seconds ahead of Olympian Hari Rimal of Tribhuvan Army Club, who completed the distance in 15 minutes and 26.60 seconds. Bhumi Raj Rai of Nepal Police Club came third with the timing of 15 minutes and 30.40 seconds.
“I achieved my target of winning the gold medal,” said Parki, who caught the eyes of Madhav Regmi four years ago and admitted him at the APF under coach Sushil Narshing Rana. “They have great roles in my success,” said Parki, who was delighted with the victory over an Olympian. “We used to have fierce competition and Rimal would win on many occasions. Finishing the race ahead of him at this stage is a proud moment for me,” added Parki. Rimal, who competed in 5,000m in the Rio Olympics, won 1,500m gold on Saturday.
In women’s category, Koju completed the distance in 18 minutes and 13.40 seconds, finishing ahead of TAC duo Sanu Maya Karki (18:33.39) and Bishworupa Budha (18:37.04). “There is no limit of my happiness as I was not hoping to get a medal here,” said the long-distance runner. “I participated in the 5,000m race as marathon was held last year. I was confused about the techniques at times because it was totally different than marathon,” said Koji. APF coach Sushil Narshing Rana said the players had a short training period and he focused on strategic aspects. “We found out the weaknesses of the opponents and prepared accordingly,” he said.
Dilli Khatri of TAC jumped 6.91 metres to win the men’s long jump gold, while Gopal Chaudhary of NPC came second in 6.59m and Chandra Dev Joshi of NPC was third in 6.38m. Similarly, Keshari Chaudhary of NPC bagged women’s section gold medal with a jump of 5.05m, while Krishna Chaudhary (4.94m) of TAC and Shila Chaudhary (4.84m) of APF claimed silver and bronze medals respectively.
TAC finished one-two in men’s 100m hurdle with Bishesh Mahato (15.85) finishing ahead of his teammate Ram Prasad Tharu (16.54). NPC’s Chandra Dev Joshi (17.43) came third. APF’s Sabita Chaudhary (16.95), Central’s Pramila Tharu (17.00) and NPC’s Keshari Chaudhary (17.10) claimed top three positions respectively. TAC, APF and Central won gold, silver and bronze medals in both men and women 4X400 relay events.
Shooting
Phul Maya Kyapchhaki took the lead in women’s 10m Air Rifle event of shooting with 380 points out of 400. Fellow NPC shooter Asmita Rai scored 376 points, while Kalpana Pariyar of TAC earned 375.
In women’s 10m Air Pistol event, Krishna Thapa of Mid-western Region accumulated 362 points to take the lead over Sangita Khadka (351) and Jaya Ansari (351) of Mid-western region. In men’s 10m Air Rifle event, Mid-western’s Anrv Ghimire scored 549 to stay at the top, while Suse Chaudhary of TAC was second with 540 and Prateek Kunwar of Central Region third with 533.
In 10, Air Pistol category, Bhipesh Khadka of Central was at the top with 538 points, ahead of Purna Kumar Shrestha (520) of TAC and Raju Thapa (470) of Eastern Region.
Sepak Takraw
Tribhuvan Army Club won gold medal in Regu event of Sepak Takraw at the Depot HS School grounds in Dharan. TAC defeated Western Region 21-15, 22-20 in the final.
TAC had earlier defeated Far-western Region, while Western had beaten Central Region in the semi-finals. In the third-place playoff, Central defeated Far-western Region 24-22, 21-18. The tournament also features men’s doubles and team event apart from women’s doubles event.
Table Tennis
Tribhuvan Army Club pair of Rabina Maharjan and Swechhya Nembang won the women’s doubles gold medal of the Table Tennis Tournament at the Shahid Stadium on Sunday.
The TAC pair defeated departmental rivals Nepal Police Club duo of Nabita Shrestha and Elina Maharjan 7-11, 11-7, 11-6, 7-11, 11-3. Nepal APF Club and TAC won bronze medal. In men’s section, NPC’s Pradeep Rokka and Binesh Khaniya beat APF’s Shiva Sundar Gothe and Amar Lal Malla 11-9, 11-9, 3-11, 11-9 in the final. NPC won bronze. Likewise, NPC won the team event gold medals with a 3-1 victory over APF in both men and women’s sections.
TAC and Central won bronze in women’s category, while Central and Eastern finished joint third in men’s section. NPC are also assured of the mixed doubles gold medal after Syantu Shrestha and Eina Maharjan set the final date with Deep Saun and Nabita Shrestha.
Kho-Kho
Tribhuvan Army Club advanced to the final of the Kho-Kho Tournament under the sev enth National Games. In women’s section, TAC defeated Far-western Region 6-4 in the semi-finals.
In Monday’s final, TAC will face Mid-western Region, a 6-5 winners over Central Region. In men’s section, TAC and Central Region entered the final. TAC defeated Eastern Region 12-7 and Central beat Far-western Region 18-4 in semi-final matches. Earlier, TAC, Central, Mid-western and Far-western had advanced to the women’s section semi-finals after the completion of the league round matches. Eastern Region and Western Region were eliminated from the group stage.
In men’s section, Tribhuvan Army Club, Central Region, Eastern Region and Far-western Region had made it to the last four.
Basketball
Central Region, Mid-western Region, Eastern Region and Tribhuvan Army Club entered the women’s basketball semi-finals on Sunday. Mid-western Region defeated Eastern Region 24-7 in the last league round match.
In men’s section, TAC hammered Mid-western Region 140-35 and made it to the last four as Group A winners, while Eastern Region beat Far-western Region 95-25.
Karate bouts postponed
Karate events at the Shahid Maidan Stadium in Biratnagar were obstructed by Nepal Police Club players and officials after TAC’s Lekhnath Mainali was declared as the winner in the men’s above-84kg weight category.
Mainali defeated NPC’s Biplav Shrestha to win the gold medal. But NPC players and officials accused the judges of being biased towards Shrestha. The organizers were forced to postpone the remaining events of the day after the NPC players and officials sat on the mat and did not allow officials to conduct the bouts. Earlier, TAC’s Kushum Khadka won gold in the women’s 45kg event defeating Urmila DC of NPC.
Volleyball
In men’s volleyball, TAC defeated Eastern Region 25-21, 25-17, 25-16, APF saw off Mid-western 25-11, 25-17, 25-7, Western recorded a 25-15, 25-15, 25-15 victory over Mid-western and NPC beat Far-western 25-10, 25-12, 25-21.
In women’s category, Central outplayed Western 25-3, 25-20, 25-4, NPC beat Far-western 25-6, 25-8, 25-10, APF beat TAC 25-8, 25-18, 25-22, and Far-western bounced back to record a 25-4, 25-20, 25-8 win against Mid-western.
Weightlifting
NPC lifter Devi Chaudhary of NPC set new national record in the women’s 53kg category in Rajbiraj, Saptari. Chaudhary lifted 60kg in snatch and 78kg in clean and jerk for a total of 138kg weight to better her own previous record.
Earlier, she had lifted 58kg in snatch and 77kg in clean and jerk. Manisha Ranabhat of TAC won gold in women’s 48kg section by lifting 50kg in snatch and 55kg in clean and jerk, while Manoj Yadav of Eastern lifted 80kg in snatch and 95kg in clean and jerk to win men’s 56kg event, and Bikash Thapa of TAC claimed gold in 62kg weight category after he lifted 100kg in snatch and 115kg in clean and jerk.
