KATHMANDU: Record breaking Nepali swimmer Karishma Karki carried the national flag at the march-pass during the opening ceremony of the first Youth Asian Games in Singapore today.

Olympian Karki, who won 12 gold medals at a single meet during the fifth National Games in April in Kathmandu, was granted the honour as the senior most athlete of the Nepali contingent. Karki broke Nayana Shakya’s haul of nine gold medals during the fourth National Games more than a decade earlier.

Earlier, Nepali contingent witnessed the flag hoisting ceremony at the athletes village. Nepali team’s Chef-de-Mission Jeevan Ram Shrestha, who reached Singapore this evening, led the Nepali team at the flag hoisting.

Member Secretary of the National Sports Council Shrestha was joined by Nepal Olympic Committee (NOC) President Dhruba Bahadur Pradhan, NOC Treasurer Upendra Keshari Neupane and former NOC President Rukma Shumsher Rana. Rana is there as an advisor of the Olympic Council of Asia (OCA).

Meanwhile, Nepal are drawn in tough group in both men and women’s 3-on-3 Basketball Tournament. In men’s section, Nepal are drawn against Kyrgyzstan, Sri Lanka, South Korea and Qatar. In all, 19 teams are vying for the title in the men’s section. The Nepali women’s team is up against South Korea, Kuwait and Japan in the 16-team event. Nepal are also participating in athletics, shooting, swimming and table tennis.