Shrestha bags gold for Nepal

Kathmandu, July 19

Samir Shrestha won gold medal for Nepal, while India and Afghanistan claimed two each on the opening day of the 12th South Asian Bodybuilding and Sports Physique Championship here at the Nepal Academy today.

Shrestha finished first in the men’s 65kg weight category, while Dinesh Kamble of India came second and Nepal’s Prajwol Shakya was third. Ahmed Mahil Saeed of Maldives was at the bottom in the four-player field. Dipu Dutta and Nisha Bhoyar claimed gold medals for India on the first day that featured six weight categories. Dutta won the men’s 60kg section gold, finishing ahead of Nepal’s Kamal Bhandari and Mohammad Qasim Hussaini of Afghanistan.

Likewise, Bhoyar won the women’s Sports Physique section gold medal ahead of Nepali duo Rajani Shrestha and Sujita Manandhar. Only three bodybuilders were in fray in the section.

Hamidullah Khushdil of Afghanistan won the men’s Fitness Physique section gold medal, while Nepal’s Raju Rai came second and Saleem Shah Anwari was third in the four-men field. Abdu Sami Haidari added another gold medal for Afghanistan when he finished first in the men’s 70kg section. Nepal’s Ramesh Karki won silver and Imran Ali Nabizada was third among five competitors.

Also, Mohammad Moosa finished first in men’s 55kg weight category. India’s Murugan Ramamurthy bagged silver, while Nepal’s Kisan Das was third. A total of 130 bodybuilders and officials are taking part in the championship organised by South Asian Bodybuilding and Physique Sports Federation under the auspices of Nepal Bodybuilding and Fitness Association. The finals of remaining six weight categories and the overall championship will be held on Saturday.