Doha, December 7:

Except for Manita Shahi, who ensured at least a bronze medal by entering the semi-finals, other taekwondo players made dismal performance when three players suffered defeats at 15th Asian Games.

Kumar Manandhar won against Tandin Dendup of Bhutan in the 54kg section but went on to lose the second round 1-5 against V Somswang of Thailand.

Manandhar, who had won silver medal in the 10th South Asian Games in Sri Lanka in August, conceded two points in the first round against the Somswang. The Thai player added one more in second round before winning two more points to Manandhar’s one.

Ramesh Kumar Shrestha lost his first round match to Islommiddin Fazylov of Tajikistan 4-0 in the 72kg bout. Yan Kumari Chaulagain was too weak for Jordan’s A Al Alssaf, who won 7-0.

In Chess, Bilam Lal Shrestha, Surbir Lama and Monalisa Khamboo, all lost their games against Indonesia in the Mixed Team’s Classic event.

Bilam Lal and Surbir both lost against the Grand Masters while Monalisa was beaten by Women Fide Master Irine Kharisma Sukandar. Utut Adianto Wahjuwidajat defeated Bilam Lal and Susanto Megranto beat Surbir.

Nepal is in the 20th position by the end of the first round with China, Indonesia, hosts Qatar, Turkiministan and Uzbekistan leading the race with three points each. Nepal will now play against Jordan.

Meanwhile, the soft tennis matches were washed out following a heavy down pour today. Nepal was scheduled to play its two doubles matches. All the matches have been rescheduled for Friday, the organisers said.

SK rider dead

Doha: South Korean eventer Kim Hyung-chil was crushed by his horse after missing a jump on a muddy equestrian course on Thursday. It was the first death of a competitor in the 55-year history of Games. Kim died after his 12-year-old gelding, Bundaberg Black, missed the eighth fence on the cross-country course, threw the rider and then rolled over him.

South Korean officials said they believed poor course conditions due to heavy rain and horse fatigue from the event’s tight schedule may have contributed to the accident.

Kim fell from his horse on the 1.5-metre-high fence No 8, on the cross-country stage. Kim, 47, father of two, received severe trauma to his head and chest and was pronounced dead soon after arrival at the hospital. — AP