Nepal enter semi-final in Esports

By A Staff Reporter,Hangzhou, Sept. 30: Nepal made it to the semi-finals of the 19th Asian Games’ Esports in Hangzhou, China on Friday.  In the Peace Elite Asian Games Version (popular as PUBG), a team consisting of Subin Kumar Prajapati, Dipesh Gurung, Shahas Bhandari, Samir Gurung, and Sangin Bhattarai raised Nepal’s medal hopes by reaching the semi-finals. 

Nepal secured their place in the last four by finishing second in Group C’s elimination round, behind Hong Kong. Nepal’s group also included Palestine and Saudi Arabia.

It took Nepal 54 minutes and 4.842 seconds to complete the game and secure a second place in their group, with Hong Kong finishing first in 51 minutes and 9.983 seconds. Thailand and South Korea from Group ‘A’, China and Chinese Taipei from Group ‘B’, and Indonesia and Japan from Group ‘D’ also made it to the semi-finals.

The top two teams from each of the four groups will play in two groups of semi-finals. Four teams will compete in both groups of the semi-finals, and two from each group will reach the finals. Out of these four teams, the top three will win medals.

In Badminton, Nepali shuttlers lost to India 3-0 in the quarterfinals of the men’s team event. Prince Dahal, Sunil Joshi, and Bishnu Katuwal were no match for their Indian counterparts, losing 2-0 in straight sets.

In Golf, Sukra Bahadur Rai, Subash Tamang, Sadbhav Acharya, and Yuvaraj Bhujel missed the cut in the men’s individual event on Day 2. The cut was applied at 1-under 143 for the top 40 and ties. Kashmira Shah and Sushma Sigdel also missed the cut in the women’s individual event. Nepal finished 13th in the women’s team round with a total score of 66-over 354.

Moulik Maharjan lapped in the Men’s Individual triathlon. In men’s 400m, Som Bahadur Kumal finished fifth in his heat round with a time of 48.68 seconds, failing to qualify. In women’s 10,000m, Santoshi Shrestha completed the race in sixth place, clocking 38:40.15 minutes.

Boxer Chandrakala Thapa exited the Round of 16 after losing to Thailand’s Porntip Buapa 5-0. Nepali hoopsters lost to Chinese Taipei 22-2 in women’s 3x3 basketball, while Nepali swimmers ended their Asian Games journey in the heat round, with Nasir Yaha Hussian clocking 4:22.03 minutes to finish men’s 400m freestyle. In women’s Handball, Nepal lost to Hong Kong 18-27 in a Group B match.