KATHMANDU: Nepal’s Gyanendra Hamal won historic silver medal in the Belt and Road China Open International Taekwondo Championship in Xi’an on Saturday.

Competing in the men’s 63kg weight category, Hamal lost to Chinese opponent in the final that restricted him to silver medal in the G1 category tournament recognised by the World Taekwondo.

Hamal defeated players from China in the first round and semi-finals, while he beat South Korean opponent in the second round, informed coach Deepak Bista.

Two other Nepali players, Nisha Rawal and Bhupendra Shrestha bagged bronze medals. Olympian Rawal had a first round bye and she lost to Chinese player in the above-73kg section, while Shrestha defeated an opponent from China in the quarter-finals before losing to another home team player in the semi-finals.

Other players, Manita Shahi (73kg), Apsara Karki (63kg), Sangita Basyal (below-62kg) and Sakchhyam Karki (above-87kg) faced defeats in the first round. Three Nepali players — Manoj Malla, Kajal Shrestha and Yunisha Rai — had won bronze medals on Friday.