KATHMANDU: Nepal dominated marathon in the seventh South Asian Federation (SAF) Games in Madras in 1995 when Tika Bahadur Bogati and Ganesh Rai won the gold and silver medals respectively. After one-and-a-half decade, long distance runners Arjun Basnet and Rajendra Bhandari are gearing up to redefine the glory when they participate in the 11th South Asian (SA) Games slated for January 29 to February 9, next year in Dhaka. Bhandari and Basnet have been the major highlights in the national marathon for more than two years. After being selected for the SA Games following their one-two finish in the third Real Marathon in September, the Armymen are speeding up for the regional meet. Both the athletes have been training together for more than two months with each other comforting in their training and timing. They are confident of claiming the top two spots in the 42.195-km event. "We have been training hard and our timings are well below 2:22s which is the best time in the region. We are confident to repeat what Tika Bogati and Ganesh Rai did 15 years back," said Basnet. Basnet has recorded 2 hours 21 minutes as his personal best during the ninth SAF Games in Pakistan to win a bronze and Bhandari clocked 2 hours 22 minutes while winning the Kathmandu Marathon last year. Most importantly, the two athletes pointed out on the psychological pressure they could exert while they line up together in the track. "We have been winning medals regularly in the regional meets and our presence will definitely put pressure on participants from other countries," added Bhandari. Basnet and Bhandari have scripted their names in a bunch of medals at the regional meet. Basnet won a silver medal in the 10th SA Games in Sri Lanka in 2006 apart from his bronze in the ninth edition. Bhandari came to limelight after he claimed the 5,000m gold medal in the Asian All Star Championships in Singapore in 2004. He went on to win 5,000m and 3,000m steeple chase gold medals in the 10th SA Games in Colombo in 2006 but was stripped of the medals after he tested positive for performance enhancing substance. The middle-distance star served the two-year ban and has never looked back after he made a triumphant return to athletics through Kathmandu Marathon. Bhandari said the past controversies won't bother him in his participation at the 11th SA Games. "I have been doing well in marathon after I made comeback. I am confident enough to prove my worth in the event," he said. The Dhaka event would be more crucial for Bhandari to clean his image as well. "As I have been out of international athletics frame after the ban, Dhaka would be a place of redemption for me," the athlete added.