South Asian Games Karate teams grab golds

ISLAMABAD: Karate team earned two more gold medals, raising Pakistan’s total gold medal tally to 10 in the 13th South Asian Games underway in three cities of Nepal.

According to reports reaching here, Kulsoom, Nargis, Sania Kousar and Sabira Gul combined to win the team kumite gold medal. Later, the men’s team consisting of Saadi Abbas, Naseer Ahmad, Baz Mohammad, Mohammad Awais, Shahbaz Khan and Murad also won the kumite title.

The two gold medals on Wednesday came on the heels of the four gold medals the karate team had won earlier.

In the athletics meet, Mohammad Uzair won the 200m gold with a time of 21.15secs. Najma Parveen claimed a silver medal in the 200m women’s category with straight 24secs. Samiul Haq won a bronze in the discus throw.

India were dominating the athletics and have so far won 12 gold medals.

Syed Waqar Shah captured a taekwondo silver for Pakistan in the 74kg category. Mehmood (63kg) and Soya Sabir (62kg) got bronze medals.

Pakistan have so far earned 10 gold, 17 silver and 22 bronze medals in the games.

Nepal continued to dominate the medals tally, clinching the highest number of medals in the 13th South Asian Games. They have so far bagged 61 medals including 28 gold, 14 silver and 19 bronze medals. Sangita Basyal won a gold medal in taekwondo held at Satdobato. Likewise, Anupama Magar claimed a gold medal in karate’s Kumete above 65-kg category held at Satdobato. She defeated Pakistani player Nargis by 6-2 points.

Meanwhile, Nepal’s Rajesh Magar captured a gold medal in the men’s cycling downhill category. Similarly, Rajat Nirva Shrestha and Prajit Thapa from Nepal also won the silver and bronze medals respectively.

Likewise, Nisma Shrestha won a gold medal in the women’s cycling. Similarly, Yashodhara from Nepal lifted the silver medal in the event.

Nepal’s Bir Bahadur Mahara on Tuesday won a gold medal in the men’s 68kg category in taekwondo. He defeated Pakistan’s Muhammad Faheem. Similarly, Bijaya Sinjali grabbed a gold in Wushu Taolu. Nepal’s Nabin Rasaili won a gold medal defeating Pakistan’s Mohammad Nasir 8-6 in the 67-kg kumite.

Meanwhile, Pakistan men’s and women’s tennis teams won a silver and bronze medal, respectively.

The men’s team defeated Sri Lanka and Bhutan before losing to India 0-2 in the final. The women’s team lost a closely fought tie against Sri Lanka. The individual events — singles, doubles, and mixed doubles — will start Thursday (today).