KATHMANDU: Nepal wrapped up their first Asian Martial Arts Games campaign with yet another defeat in karate in Bangkok today.

Tara Gurung lost her quarter-final bout 5-0 against a Jordanian opponent. It was Gurung’s first match in women’s 61kg category after having a first round bye. The loss also put an end to Nepal’s participation in the Games where 18 players represent in four martial

art games — karate, wushu, judo and taekwondo. In

all 955 players from 45 nations took part in nine different martial arts games.

The Nepali team was, however, lucky to have won bronze in women’s below-60kg wushu event. Jharna Gurung was assured of at least a bronze in the event after only three nations registered for the event. Gurung lost both her league matches but still won bronze.

Nepal’s Chef-de-mission Purendra Bikram Lakhe said that they should learn from the disappointing results. “We need to adopt a scientific and long term plan in order to keep intact Nepal’s image as a strong martial art games nation in South Asia,” said Lakhe. “I have been watching all the games and I have noticed even Afghanistan — the newcomers — are doing well than our players. If we fail to raise the standard of our players, we will be left to compete against only Bhutan in South Asia,” said Nepal Olympic Committee President Dhurba Bahadur Pradhan.

All the competitions of the first Martial Arts Games concluded today with

the closing ceremony set at the Indoor Stadium Hyumark for Sunday.