Himalayan News Service

Kathmandu, January 10:

Nepal finished first winning 51 medals — 21 gold, 15 silver and 15 bronze — in the first All Karate Open International Championship organised by Nepal Kwanmukan Karate Do Association from January 5-10 here today. Promoted by Nepal Tourism Board, The Himalayan Times was the official media of the five-nation event.

United States of America came second with three gold, one silver and two bronze, while Bangladesh stood third with two gold, six silver and 14 bronze medals. India won a gold, three silver and 11 bronze medals, while Iran bagged four silver and a bronze medals.

In the day’s finals, Subhadra Shrestha of Nepal edged out Adisha Taluja of India in girls’ individual kata. In women’s individual kata, Farhan A Begum of Bangladesh and Bina Suwal of Nepal grabbed top two spots.In boys’ individual kata, Jonathan Mayhew of USA beat Manjay Kaji Shrestha of Nepal. In men’s individual kata, Purna Man Balami of Nepal and Aron Caldwell of USA claimed top two spots respectively.

In team kata, Nepal and Bangladesh won gold and silver respectively in both the girls’ and women’s sections. Meenu Lama of Nepal won gold in girls’ 30kg section beating Itisha of India. In girls’ 35kg section, Preeti of India and Kabita Maharjan of Nepal won gold and silver, while Pratima Darsan of Nepal ad Shajida Afrin of Bangladesh grabbed top two spots respectively in 40kg category.

Roji Nagarkoti of Nepal and Rita Akhtar of Bangladesh won gold and silver respectively in 45kg, while Umita Basnet beat fellow Nepali athlete Amrita Thapa in women’s 48kg final.

In women’s 53kg, Sangita Dangol of Nepal beat Maruzuri Binte Anona of Bangladesh, whereas Amrita Shakya of Nepal’s downed Soonu KC of Nepal in 60kg weight category. Nepal’s Krishna KC and Morium Begum of Bangladesh won gold and silver respectively in over 60kg section. Nepal won all four medals in the boys’ 30kg kumite, with Mangil Lama and Bipin Maharjan winning gold and silver respectively. In boys’ 35kg, Nepal’s Karan Sahagal and Anil Thapa claimed top two spots. In 40kg, Gyan Bahadur Rai and Prayass Shrestha won gold and silver, and Rabiul Islam of Bangladesh and Nepal’s Taramani Rai got silver each. In 45kg, Saroj Ranjit of Nepal and Sandeep of India came first and second respectively.

In 50kg, Nepal’s Sunil Nakarmi and Buddhin Shrestha grabbed top two spots, while Jonathan Mayhew of USA and Diwas Oli of Nepal won gold and silver respectively. Nepal’s Mukunda Maharja knocked down Kajiman Budha to win a gold in the 55kg section, while Binod Maharjan and Dhan Bahadur Aidy, both of Nepal, claimed top two spots in 60kg.

Santosh Khadka of Nepal beat Amir Saden Teharani of Iran in the 65kg final, while Nepal’s Deepak Kyal knocked out fellow countryman Nabin Bajracharya to win gold in the 70kg weight category. Niroj Karmacharya of Nepal and Behnam Asghar of Iran claimed top two spots in the 75kg section, whereas Mohammad Mansouri Fard of Bangladesh defeated Ganga Sagar Bainya of Nepal in 80kg final. Noah Holloway of USA won 80kg gold beating Saeed Kakaei of Iran in the final.

In men’s team kumite, Nepal, Iran and Bangladesh claimed top three spots respectively. Nepal won gold and silver and Bangladesh grabbed bronze in the boys’ section, while Nepal and Bangladesh finished first and second in the girls’ team kumite.