POKHARA, OCTOBER 18

Anish Thapa Magar and Bindra Dhanke Shrestha won gold medals in marathon as four records faltered in athletics under the Ninth National Games here today.

Thapa Magar of Gandaki Province won men's marathon after he completed the 42.195km race in two hours, 22 minutes and 54 seconds. Thapa Magar claimed maiden marathon gold medal for Gandaki Province in the history of the National Games. Krishna Basnet of Tribhuvan Army Club finished second in 2:23.14, while Nepal APF Club athlete Santosh Bikram Bista came third in 2:30.54. A total of 18 athletes took part in the event.

In women's section, Nepal APF Club athlete Shrestha finished first with the timing of 2:57.23.

The 38-year-old athlete, mother of an eight-year-old child, beat TAC athlete Bishwo Rupa Budha, who came second in three hours and 35 seconds. Nepal Police Club's Rekha Bista finished third in 3:01:35.

TAC athlete Jayarani Tharu won her third gold medal when she won the women's long jump in record time.

Tharu jumped 5.58 metres to break the previous mark of 5.47 metres held by Nisha Chaudhary of Lumbini Province. Chaudhary won silver with 5.49m and APF's Shila Chaudhary bagged bronze in 5.31m.

APF's Salim Dewan also set a new national record in men's long jump. The APF athlete jumped 7.06 metres on his way to winning the gold medal. Dilli Khatri of TAC came second in 6.98m, while Gandaki's Narayan Chaudhary was third in 6.82m.

Also, TAC athlete Gopi Chandra Parki and APF's Ramita Tharu broke national records in the 400m race. Parki bettered his own mark in the men's 400m event completing the race in 47.95 seconds.

APF's Ashish Chaudhary came second in 49.40 seconds, while TAC's Prakash Danuwar was third in 49.90 seconds. In the women's 400m race, Tharu ran in a record time of 58.10 seconds to win her maiden gold medal in the Games. TAC's Nirmala Thapa came second in 1:00.14 and APF's Kalpana Shrestha was third in 1:00.70.

A version of this article appears in the print on October 19 2022 of The Himalayan Times.