By Our Correspondent, Nagoya, Aug.1: With four days remaining at the 20th Asian Games in Aichi-Nagoya, Japan, Nepal’s contingent faces an uphill battle to add to its modest medal tally.
Having arrived with ambitious targets of securing double-digit medals, including at least one gold, Nepal has so far claimed two bronze medals, courtesy of the women’s kabaddi and karate teams.
Four Judokas bow out
Nepal’s campaign suffered a major setback on Wednesday as all four judokas competing at the Aichi International Arena crashed out in the first round.
Siblings Nisha and Debaki Maya Shrestha fell in the women’s division. Nisha was defeated by Hong Kong’s Ka Lee Wong via an ippon in the under-48kg category, while her elder sister, Debaki, lost 1-0 on yuko to Vietnam’s Thi Ngan Ha Lam in the under-52kg event.
In the men’s competition, Vishesh BK went down 11-1 on waza-ari to Hong Kong’s Ka Ki Wong in the under-66kg class. Meanwhile, his brother, Bikash, was eliminated in just 48 seconds after conceding an ippon to Uzbekistan’s Samariddin Kuchkarov in the under-60kg category.
Poonam Shrestha and Sujan Gurung are set to take to the tatami on Thursday.
Reflecting on the dismal start, coach Sunita Magar Tamrakar pointed to a lack of international exposure. “Nepali players performed their best today. Two of them managed to fight for the full four minutes. Facing ranked opponents is inherently difficult, and our athletes rarely get the chance to compete against them,” Tamrakar said, expressing hope for stronger performances from Poonam and Sujan.
Majhi finishes tenth in Canoe Slalom
In canoe slalom at the Yahagigawa course, Bijay Majhi reached the final of the men’s kayak singles but finished at the bottom of the ten-man field.
Majhi advanced to the medal round with a score of 275.73 points after placing 16th in the semi-finals, but struggled in the final with 311.14 points.
Compatriot Aashish Rana Magar also reached the semi-finals but failed to finish his run.
Tamang shoots even-Par in Golf
On the golf course, medal hopeful Subash Tamang began his campaign with a steady even-par 70 at the Kasugai Country Club East Course.
Nepali professional golfer Tamang shared 18th position after posting an even-par 35 on both the front and back nines.
After opening with a bogey on the second hole, he recovered with a birdie on the ninth to reach the turn at level par.
He made a strong start to the inward half with consecutive birdies on the 10th and 11th holes, followed by another gain on the 14th.
However, a double bogey on the 15th and a bogey on the 18th saw him drop three strokes over the final four holes.
Amateur Rahul Bishwakarma shot a 6-over 76 to share 43rd place. He turned at 2-over 37 before completing his back nine in 4-over 39, hampered by a double bogey on the 15th and dropped shots on the 16th and 17th holes.
Meanwhile, compatriot Sadbhav Acharya withdrew after being hospitalised on Tuesday with a fever. He remains under medical observation.
In the women’s competition, Tara Karki Chitrakar carded a 21-over 91 to share 43rd place alongside Mongolia’s Telmen Khasar. Chitrakar’s round featured three triple bogeys, one double bogey, 10 bogeys, and four pars.
The Rising Nepal
