LAITPUR: Shailesh Rana set a new national record in the men’s 50m breaststroke on

his way to win three gold medals on the opening day of the 15th National Open and Age-group Swimming Championships here at the Satdobato Swimming Complex today.

Rana clocked 32.82 seconds to break the previous mark of 33.35 set by Alice Shrestha at the 10th South Asian Games in Colombo. Rana bettered the national record he broke during the heats (32.97). Shailesh also won the 200m Individual Medley in 33.18 and 50m freestyle in 25.06.

Bibidha Rimal and Shaila Rana also picked up double gold in the women’s open category. Rimal took the 50m breaststroke gold in 40.94 and 100m breaststroke gold in 1:31.63. Shaila, meanwhile, won the women’s 200m freestyle in 2:40.95 and 100m butterfly in 1:22.34. Shreya Dhital won the women’s 50m freestyle final in 32.00.

In men’s 100m backstroke Pushpa Raj Shahi timed 1:16.44 to win the gold

and Chandra Singh Mahato won the 50m butterfly

gold in 29.56.

Sheila Devi Gurung and Shreya also claimed double gold medals in the girls’ age-group category. Sheila clinched the U-12 50m butterfly and 50m backstroke gold while Shreya (13-14yrs) claimed the 50m butterfly and 50m backstroke gold.

Other gold medal winners include Surangana Bomjan (15-17yrs) in 100m backstroke, Pratistha Shrestha (15-17yrs) in 50m butterfly and Soniya Gurung (13-14yrs) in 50m breaststroke. Manish Chitrakar also won two gold medals in the boys’ age-group category.

Manish won the (U-12) 50m backstroke and

50m breaststroke. Likewise, Jayanta Prakash Gurung (13-14yrs) won the 50m butterfly and Banin

Sensha Shrestha (15-17yrs) clinched 100m butterfly gold medal.

Saran Sunuwar clinched the boys (15-17yrs) 100m breaststroke and Prakash Adhikari (15-17yrs) earned the 50m backstroke gold. Pravesh Adhikari (13-14yrs) won the 50m breaststroke and Milan Thapa (15-17yrs) won 50m freestyle gold.