National records galore at Pokhara Open Athletics

By A Staff Reporter

Kathmandu, Apr 14: Three national records were set at the 2nd Pokhara Open Athletics Meet 2026. 

On the second day of the meet on Monday, held at Pokhara Stadium, Santoshi Shrestha and Mukesh Bahadur Pal set new marks in the 3000m races, while Sima Chaudhary broke the women’s long jump record.

Known as the “Golden Girl”, Shrestha shattered a 35‑year‑old record in the women’s 3000m. She clocked 9:43.19, beating the previous best of 9:48.14 set by Raj Kumari Pandey at the 1990 Asian Games in Beijing. 

An Olympian, Shrestha also holds national records in the 5000m, 10,000m, half marathon, 25km, 30km road race and marathon. Puspa Limbu of Koshi Province (11:21.79) and Kushum Thapa (13:34.79) finished second and third.

Pal also produced a record‑breaking run in the men’s 3000m, winning in 8:19.57. He surpassed the previous mark of 8:23.59 set by Gyan Bahadur Bohora in India in 1999. Rupesh Karki of APF Club (8:36.11) and Nageshwor Aahir of Police (8:59.59) took silver and bronze.

Chaudhary entered the record books with a long jump of 5.97m, bettering her own National record of 5.83 meters set in India one year ago.

She also collected her fourth gold medal of the meet. Anisha Tharu (4.87m) and Sujata Kumal (3.95m) placed second and third.

Chaudhary, representing Nepal Police Club, added gold in the women’s 200m with 26.36 seconds. Bhagwati Khadka (27.12) and Anuska Adhikari (27.53) followed. 

On the opening day, she won the 100m in 12.16 seconds and the triple jump with 12.00m.

The men’s 200m went to Sushil KC of APF in 22.10 seconds. He also won the men’s long jump with 6.5m.

Police’s Chandrakala Lamgade dominated the women’s discus and javelin. She threw 34.82m in discus, with teammates Hiran Kumari (31.41m) and Basanti Kumari Chaudhary (26.47m) completing a clean sweep. In javelin, Lamgade won with 37.86m, ahead of Basanti Chaudhary (31.79m) and Hiran Kumari Chaudhary (16.45m). 

She also claimed shot put gold on the first day with 11m.

Rabi Chaudhary of Lumbini won the men’s javelin with 37.86m. Laligurans’ relay team of Prabin Rana, Saura Bista, Bhagwati Khadka and Anisha Tharu took the mixed 4x100m in 47.85 seconds.

Keshav Budha of Gandaki won the men’s 800m in 1:50.63, while Sumitra Kumari Chaudhary of Police took the women’s title in 2:32.38. Sumitra also won the women’s 5000m on the first day.

On day one, Aadesh Kumar Yadav of Police won the men’s 100m in 20.38 seconds. Budha claimed the men’s 400m in 49.47 seconds. 

Bikram Nath of Sudurpaschim won the men’s triple jump, while Dujik Thapa Magar of Gandaki took shot put. 

The women’s high jump went to Pramila Surkheti of Gandaki, with Abinas Sunar of Laligurans winning the men’s event.

Rupesh Karki of APF led the men’s 5000m, Asha Rawat won the women’s 1500m, and Bikram Pal claimed the men’s 1500m.