Unbeaten Nepal to face India in final in 12th SA Games
Shillong, February 13
Nepal finished the round-robin league campaign on a high note with a 4-0 victory over Sri Lanka here at the Jawaharlal Nehru Stadium today.
Nepal accumulated 10 points from four matches — three wins and a draw — to finish atop the table to set up the championship match against hosts India. Sabitra Bhandari scored a brace, while Sapna Lama netted one after Sri Lanka conceded an own goal early in the match.
A Parera headed into her own nets to give Nepal the lead in the 13th minute of the match while trying to clear a cross from Mana Maya Limbu, while Bhandari doubled the lead in the 52nd minute when she beat Sri Lanka defenders before firing home. Bhandari then extended the lead 11 minutes later chipping over the Sri Lankan goalkeeper A Wijerathna. Sapna Lama completed the scoring in the 80th minute when he slammed home in a rebound after the initial strike hit the crossbar.
In another match, India rout Bangladesh 5-1 to finish with eight points. The Monday’s championship match between Nepal and India will be their fifth meeting in final. Nepal have never beaten India all competitions in women’s football with their first draw coming two days earlier in the league round match of the ongoing SA Games. In men’s section, Nepal advanced to the final with a 4-3 victory over the Maldives in semi-final match. Nepal will face India in final on February 15.
Triathlon
GUWAHATI: Nepal ended up with a bronze medal in the individual category of triathlon here at the Dr Zakir Hussein Aquatics Stadium on Saturday. Roja KC came third in women’s section finishing the 750m swimming, 20km cycling and 5km running with the timing of one hour and 16 minutes. In the sport which is included in the South Asian Games for the first time, Yam Kumari Ghale came fifth in one hour, 20 minutes and 29 seconds. India dominated the event claiming gold and silver. In men’s section, Nepali players Rudra Katwal and Tika Ram Thapa made disappointing performance. In the event that included 1.5km swimming, 40km cycling and 10km running, Rudra Katwal came fifth in two hours, 23 minutes and 40 seconds, while Tikaram Thapa finished sixth in 2:30:33. Indian athletes won gold and silver, while Sri Lanka bagged bronze.
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Country,-,Gold,Silver,Bronze,Total
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