Nepal’s dismal performance continues in Asiad

By A Staff Reporter,Kathmandu, Sept. 27: Nepal's poor performance continued on the third day of the 19th Asian Games in Hangzhou. The country's players competed in Taekwondo, Judo, Boxing, Wushu, Rugby, Squash, Tennis, and Swimming. 

Despite having hope in martial arts, failures kept coming from Taekwondo, Judo, and Wushu. 

Only Govinda Bahadur Ale won a match in the men's 63 kg category in Taekwondo. Unfortunately, none of the other Taekwondo players from Nepal achieved their first victory. 

Swimmers were eliminated from the heat round, failing to improve the national record. 

Nepal participated in the Rugby Sevens for the first time and lost all six matches, coming in last place among 13 participating teams. 

Nepal's performance in squash and tennis was also disappointing. In the team event, Nepali squash players lost all their matches in the group stage. Nepal lost to Kuwait and Pakistan with identical 3-0 scores in the men's team event. In the women's team event, Nepal suffered a 3-0 defeat against Malaysia and Macao, China in Group B.

Nepal's Sunira Thapa and Pranav Khanal lost their mixed doubles second-round match against Philippines' pair Alex Eala and Francis Casey 6-0, 6-0 in Tennis today, resulting in the end of Nepal's stay in Hangzhou.

In Wushu, two Nepali players, Nima Gharti Magar and Deepak Hamal, who were hoping for medals, were eliminated. 

Magar, who competed in the women's Nanquan final, finished tenth, while Deepak Hamal ended in 13th place in the men's Nanquan final. Despite being identified as a probable medal-winning game, Nepal has not won any medals in Wushu in the Asian Games.

In Judo, all eight Nepali players lost their matches, except for Bikash BK, who won his first-round match. The individual challenge of Nepali judoka ended with defeats of Ranjesh Gole and Aakriti Joshi on Tuesday. Nepal will play in Judo's mixed team event on Wednesday.

In Taekwondo, only Gobinda Bahadur Ale in the men's -63kg category won a match before being eliminated in the Round of 16 match. Ayasha Lama (-53kg) and Sandhya Kumari Singh (-57kg) lost their Round of 16 matches in the women's category. Seven Taekwondo players have been eliminated from the Asian Games until Tuesday.

Nepal's swimmer, Anusiya Tandukar, exited from the heat round in the women's 100m freestyle, finishing in 25th position with a time of 1:03.17. 

In boxing, Buddha Gyamjo Lama lost his Round of 32 in the men's 57kg, while Ashish Duwadi lost his Round of 16 match in the men's category.