Shrestha, Mahara clinch golds to make it nine in taekwondo

Kathmandu, December 3

Kajal Shrestha and Bir Bahadur Mahara added one each gold medal taking the taekwondo tally to nine in the 13th South Asian Games today.

Taekwondo player Bir Bahadur Mahara celebrates after winning a gold medal in 13th South Asian Games in Lalitpur on Tuesday, December 3, 2019. Photo: THT
Taekwondo player Bir Bahadur Mahara celebrates after winning a gold medal in 13th South Asian Games in Lalitpur on Tuesday, December 3, 2019. Photo: THT

A day after the home team bagged seven out of 13 gold medals in poomsae events, Shrestha and Mahara won in kyorugi. Shrestha claimed gold in women’s 46kg section fight with a 50-14 victory over Pakistan’s Syed Zadi Sidra Batool, while India and Sri Lanka bagged bronze each.

Taekwondo player Bir Bahadur Mahara celebrates after winning a gold medal in 13th South Asian Games in Lalitpur on Tuesday, December 3, 2019. Photo: THT
Taekwondo player Bir Bahadur Mahara celebrates after winning a gold medal in 13th South Asian Games in Lalitpur on Tuesday, December 3, 2019. Photo: THT

In men’s 68kg weight category, Mahara defeated Pakistani player Muhammad Faheem 41-36 in the final bout. Tharanga Lakmal (Sri Lanka) and Prithvi Raj Chauhan (India) claimed bronze medal each.

Nima Gurung claimed silver medal in women’s 57kg category after she faced a 8-7 defeat at the hands of India’s Kashish Malik, while Tshering Yangchen (Bhutan) and Naqsh Hamdani (Pakistan) finished joint third. Manoj Malla of Nepal bagged bronze medal in men’s 54kg weight category along with Kanha Mainali of India.

Shah Zaib of Pakistan claimed gold in the event after his 47-10 victory over Renhana Anura Bandara of Sri Lanka.

On Monday, Ayasha Shakya became the first player to win double gold medals in a single meet. Shakya bagged her first gold in above-29yrs category of women’s individual poomsae and teamed up with Sanjib Kumar Ojha to win the gold in pair poomsae.

Other gold medal winners in individual poomsae included Kamal Shrestha (above- 23yrs), Sina Limbu Maden (17-23yrs) and Parbati Gurung (23-29yrs), along with Nisha Darnal/Swastika Tamang/Sanjila Timalsina (17-23yrs team) and Nita Gurung/Prashansa Chhetri/Sushila Rai (above-23yrs) in team.

Apart from nine gold medals, Nepal has so far bagged two silver and five bronze medals.