KATHMANDU: Gajendra Rai and Sanumaya Karki won gold medals in the fifth National Cross Country Championship held under the fifth Mountain Sports Festival.

Rai completed the 8km race in 25 minutes and 12 seconds to finish first, while Kalyan Baniya and Tikaraj Katwal came second and third respectively. In women’s section, Karki finished first in 27 minutes and 08 seconds, while Resu Basnet and Sarita Basi were second and third respectively. Top three athletes in both sections, all from Tribhuvan Army Club, received Rs 15,000, Rs 10,000 and Rs 5,000 respectively.

Likewise, Sujan Rai of Nepal Rastriya School bagged boys’ section 3km race finishing ahead of Manoj Mahat of Bidhya Bikash and Rohit Bishankhe of Bidhya Aarjan. In girls’ section, Sarita Karki of Bal Gitanjali won gold medal, while Pujan Pandey of Manakamana and Nisha Raut of Shikshyalaya Nepal were second and third respectively. Top three athletes in both categories earned Rs 8,000, Rs 4,000 and Rs 2,000 respectively. — HNS