Nepal defends title with 62 medals at 8th South Asian Karate

By A Staff Reporter,Kathmandu, July 20: Nepal has defended its championship title at the 8th South Asian Karate Championship in Thimpu, Bhutan, after staying atop with 62 medals, including 31 gold.

Nepal was also the champion in the 7th edition held in Kathmandu, Nepal, with 61 medals (30 gold, 24 silver, 7 bronze). According to the Nepal Karate Federation (NKF), Nepali karatekas won 31 gold medals, 20 silver medals and 11 bronze medals in the 8th edition.

In the two-day tournament that concluded on Friday, Nepal won eight gold medals on the first day. Nepal clinched the gold medals in senior women and men kata, junior male and female kata, -21-year-old and male cadet categories on Thursday.

“Saman Shrestha, Sahil Rai, Nishan Tamang, Gaurav Nepal, Aashish Shrestha, Alone Shrestha, Santosh Shrestha, Mohammad Sekhu Alam and Biplov Lal Shrestha were the male karatekas to win gold on the last day,” said Gajendra Bahadur Khapangi, media coordinator for the NKF.

Similarly, in the female category, Barsha Rai, Prosiya Chaudhary, Manisha Kumari Bohara, Sushmita Waiba, Samikshya Dhungana, Priyanka Shahi, Anjali Maharjan, Jiya Karki, Barsha Budha Magar and Nirupa Tamang won the gold.

Nepali karateka Erika Gurung, who won a silver in the 19th Asian Games, was also one of the 31 gold medalists for Nepal. She won in the +68kg category.

On the first day, Alisha Raskoti Magar and Swanim Manandhar won gold for Nepal in the single kata of senior women and men’s sections, respectively. Sanju Deshar (Women’s U21) and Rehan Jabed (Men’s cadet) also won medals in kata. Nepal also won gold in team kata for senior women and men, as well as for junior women and men categories on Thursday.

In the championship participated by four teams, India finished second with 60 medals (27 gold, 20 silver, 13 bronze), Sri Lanka finished third with 54 medals (5 gold, 18 silver, 31 bronze) and host Bhutan finished fourth with 42 medals (5 silver, 37 bronze).