Shillong, February 8

Jharana Gurung is looking to end her career with a gold medal despite being injured in her first-round bout in the 12th South Asian Games here at the Assam Rifle Sports Complex.

Gurung, who hails from Pokhara, made it to the championship match with an easy victory over Afghanistan’s Zarmina Ibrahim in the below-52kg semi-final bout. She showed no signs of injury in the match against Ibrahim and registered a 2-0 victory to set the final clash with Sanathoi Devi of India. Gurung dislocated her left shoulder during the first-round match against WP Malisa Madumalai of Sri Lanka on Sunday. “It was not a big injury but I could not raise my hands this morning,” said Gurung. “As there was taping all over the shoulder, I had to play with extra caution in the semi-final match to save myself from serious injury,” said Jharna. “I totally forgot about my injury once I entered the platform and overcame my opponent with ease.”

The Asian Championship bronze medallist, Gurung said her performance so far was satisfactory. “I played as per expectation in the first two bouts and I am confident of getting one more to win gold medal for the country,” she added. “Both of my opponents were good and I performed well to beat them. That has boosted my morale going into the final match,” said Gurung.

Gurung said she would treat the bout against Indian opponent Devi as the final bout of her career. “I will give my best shot as I am planning to play it as a final match of my career,” said the 11th SA Games bronze medallist. “The whole team is playing with strong will power. Our hands and legs might not work properly, but we are trying to give our best,” she added. Her opponent in final, Devi is Asian Games medallist. “She is a strong competitor but we are also fully prepared,” she added.

Gurung came to limelight in 2013 when she ended Nepal’s 18-year medal drought in wushu. She had won bronze medal in the eighth Asian Wushu Championship in Vietnam in June 2013.

Table tennis

Nepal are confirmed of at least bronze medals when Nabita Shrestha and Elena Maharjan advanced to the women’s doubles semi-finals of the 12th South Asian Games in Shillong on Monday. Shrestha and Maharjan defeated Pakistan 3-1 in quarter-finals. In men’s singles, Deep Saun and Purushottam Bajracharya lost their quarter-final matches. Saun suffered a straight set loss against Indian opponent, while Bajracharya lost 4-1 to Sri Lankan player. Likewise, Nabita Shrestha suffered a 4-1 loss at the hands of Indian player in the women’s singles quarter-final.