Nepali women finish second
Lalitpur, April 23
India claimed the team events gold medals in both categories of the eighth South Asian Judo Championship here at the Nepal Army Sports and Physical Training Centre today.
In the women's category final, India defeated Nepal 5-0. Olympian and 12th South Asian Games gold medallist Phupu Lhamu Khatri lost to Sunibala Devi Huidrom in the below-63kg weight category, while Devika Khadka was beaten by Shushila Devi Likmambam in below-52kg.
Manita Shrestha Pradhan suffered a defeat against Angom Anita Chanu in below-57kg, while Bhawana Gharti Magar went down to Garima Choudhary in below-70kg and Punam Shrestha was beaten by Tulika Maan in above-70kg. Pakistan secured bronze medal defeating Bangladesh 4-1.
In men's team event final, India defeated Pakistan 3-2. India's Vijay Kumar Yadav defeated Pakistan's Babar Hussain in below-66kg, Divesh saw off Muhammad Abbas in below-81kg and Jobandeep Singh beat Qaisar Khan in below-90kg.
Similarly, Pakistan's Nadeem Akram beat India's Ajay Yadav in below-73kg, while Shah Hussain Shah outplayed Udayvir Singh in above-90kg. Sri Lanka finished third with a 3-2 victory over Nepal.
India also dominated the individual events as they bagged 10 gold and three bronze medals to win the overall championship. India clean swept women's section winning all seven gold medals, while they claimed three gold medals in men's category. Nepal came second with two gold, six silver and 12 bronze medals.
Pakistan, who bagged two gold and three each silver and bronze medals, were third. Sri Lanka claimed three silver and five bronze medals, while Bangladesh bagged two each silver and bronze medals. Bhutan won one bronze medal.
Meanwhile, the meeting of the South Asian Judo Federation decided to hold the next edition of the South Asian Judo Championship in Bangladesh in 2020. Likewise, Sri Lanka will host the junior and cadet championship in 2019.
