Doha, December 3:

Bilam Lal Shrestha of Nepal continued with his impressive run as he registered his second win in the men’s Rapid Chess played under the Swiss league method here at the 15th Asian Games today.

Of the events Nepal has participated, chess is only discipline that has brought some pleasant story so far. After defeating a grand master on Saturday, Bilam Lal today won against Mogolian opponent Gundavaa Bayarsikhan in the fourth round at the Al-Dana Indoor Hall.

Surbir Lama drew to International Masters Abdulla Hasan Al-Hammadi of the UAE in the fourth round. Bilam Lal and Surbir both, however, lost their fifth round matches. Bilam Lal was beaten by Jwan Bakr of Syria and Surbir Lama lost to Utat Adianto Wahjuwidajat of Indonesia.

In the women’s Rapid fifth round game, Monalisa Khamboo defeated Sin Chan of Macua after losing her fourth round match to Jedara Docena of Philippines earlier in the day. Monalisa has two points after she had a bye in the third round on Saturday.

Manager of the chess team and vice president of Nepal Chess Association Arun Kumar Shrestha was more than happy with the performance of the chess players. “After Bilam Lal defeated the grand master, he said to me that he is eying to beat at least two other grand masters until the ninth round,” said Shrestha. “We don’t get opportunity to play against the Grand Masters often and winning against such opponent is always encouraging,” he said.

Judo did not fare well as SA Games silver medallists Debu Thapa lost her 63kg fight as soon as she entered the arena — 14 seconds — against Gulnar Hayytbayeva of Turkmenistan. The only other participant in Judo Ranju Rai will play against Ying Li in the 52kg category on Monday.

Chen sets weightlifting world records

DOHA: Chen Yanqing of China came out of retirement to set five world weightlifting records at the 15th Asian Games. She convincingly won the 58kg women’s event at Al-Dana Banquet Hall and clinched China’s fourth consecutive weightlifting gold medal.

Chen, the 2004 Olympic champion, opened the snatch portion of the competition with a lift of 103kg. She then hoisted 108kg on her second attempt and raised 111kg on her third attempt to beat the pervious snatch world record of 110kg set in 2003 by Wang Li, also from China.

The 27-year old struggled in the clean portion of the clean and jerk, but managed to set a total of four world records in three lifts. In her first attempt in the clean and jerk Chen hoisted 131kg for a total of 242kg, 1kg over Chinese compatriot Gu Wei’s total world record. On her second attempt, she lifted 137kg to set a new total world record of 248kg.

On her third and final attempt, Chen struggled mightily to get the bar to the clean position, before finally raising 140kg above her head. She received three white lights from the judges but, more importantly, Chen picked up two new world records – 140kg in the clean and jerk and 251kg in the total. — Agencies