Shrestha outplays Hussain, grabs second gold for Nepal
Lalitpur, April 22
Indra Bahadur Shrestha won second gold medal for Nepal in the eighth South Asian Judo Championship here at the Nepal Army Sports and Physical Training Centre today.
Shrestha defeated Pakistan's Babar Hussain in the men's below-66kg final match to win the gold.
After three Nepali judokas lost their final matches of the day, Shrestha was only hope for the gold and he was able to put smiles on the Nepali supporters by earning Ippon against Hussain.
Shrestha, who had defeated India's Ankit Bisht in the semi-final match, said he was confident of winning the gold after recording victory over the Indian opponent.
“The feeling of winning the gold is something especial. It felt like I was flying in the sky,” Shrestha, the 12th South Asian Games bronze medallist, said. India's Ankit Bisht and Sri Lanka's Roshan Madusanka won bronze medals in the category.
On Saturday, Ravin Shrestha had won gold in the men's below-100kg weight section.
Meanwhile, Nepal's Sanjay Maharjan lost to India's Divesh in below-81kg final. Pakistan's Muhammad Abbas and Sri Lanka's Sriharsha Peires took bronze medals.
In below-73kg final, Sanjit Dangol surrendered to Ajay Yadav of India. Janga Bahadur Saru, who defeated Shree Milton Majumder of Bangladesh, and Pakistan's Nadeem Akram won bronze medals.
In below-60kg final, Vijay Kumar Yadav of India saw off Sri Lanka's Milinda Senevirathne. Nepal's Roshan Bahadur Dong beat Tashi Wangchuk of Bhutan, while Umesh Magar outplayed fellow Nepali player Sudesh Bahadur Dhong to win bronze medals.
In women's category, Nepal's Punam Shrestha suffered defeat against India's Jina Devi Chongtham in below-78kg final. Nepal's Bhawana Gharti Magar, who outplayed Most Ety Khatun of Bangladesh, and Pakistan's Beenish Khan bagged bronze medals.
In above-78kg section, Nepal's Aakriti Joshi beat fellow Nepali judoka Sunita Bohara to win bronze medal. India's Tulika Maan defeated Sri Lanka's Milani Silva in final match.
Similarly, Garima Choudhary of India won all four league matches of below-70kg category and claimed gold medal. Choudhary defeated Farina Khanom of Bangladesh, Sunita Magar of Nepal, Samjhana Chaudhary of Nepal and Ruwani Jayarathna of Sri Lanka.
Farina Khanom of Bangladesh secured second position while Nepal's Sunita Magar and Sri Lanka's Ruwani Jayarathna took bronze medals.
India are leading the medal table with 10 gold and three bronze medals, while Nepal are second with two gold, six silver and 12 bronze medals.
Pakistan, who have won two gold and three each silver and bronze medals are third. Sri Lanka have claimed three silver and five bronze medals, while Bangladesh have bagged two each silver and bronze medals. Bhutan have won only one bronze so far.
