Pokhara, December 2

Nepal’s Sony Gurung won the historic gold medal in triathlon under the 13th South Asian Games here today.

Gurung completed the race — 750m swimming, 20km cycling and 5km running — in one hour, 13 minutes and 45 seconds to finish first in women’s sprint event.Indian athletes came second and third in the event. Sarojini Devi Thaudam was second in 1:14 and her teammate Praganya Mohan came third in 1:14:57.

Gurung become the first Nepali triathlon athlete to win gold medal in the SA Games. Roja KC had bagged bronze medal in individual sprint event in the previous edition in Guwahati three years ago along with silver in mixed team.

In men’s section, Adarsha MN Sinamol of India claimed gold medal in one hour, two minutes and 31 seconds, finishing ahead of his countryman Bishworajit Saikhom (1:02:59) and Nepal’s Basanta Tharu (1:03:06).

Nepal chief coach Yuvaraj Silwal expressed his happiness after Gurung won the gold medal. “I am happy with the gold medal finish from Sony Gurung but she could have improved on her timing,” said Silwal. “India is our main opponent and we have prepared our players to win two gold medals in women’s section and one in mixed relay. We fell behind in men’s section today but we are hoping to win gold medal from women in duathlon along with silver in men’s section,” he added.

Badminton

POKHARA: Both the Nepali teams faced defeats in semi-finals of the badminton tournament. The men and women team of the hosts faced defeats at the hands of Sri Lankan opponents restricting them to bronze medals.

Ratnajit Tamang, Dipesh Dhami and Prince Dahal had made it to the semi-final with a 3-0 win over Bhutan, while the women’s team of Nangsal Tamang, Rashila Maharjan and Jessica Gurung was in the last four following their 3-0 win over Bangladesh.