Hangzhou (HamroKhelkud) – Karate athlete Arika Gurung has bagged a silver medal in the 68 KG weight category in the ongoing 19th Asian Games (ASIAD). Arika fell short against Sofia Berultseva of Kazakhstan, limiting her to a silver medal.
This is the third silver medal for Nepal at the Asian Games. Earlier, Sabita Raj Bhandari won silver in 1998, followed by Nepal’s paragliding team in 2018. Arika, with a loss in the final, failed to capture Nepal’s first goal in ASIAD.
Arika previously defeated Hong Kong’s Yan Kai Ho in the semi-finals and entered the final. She secured her place in the gold medal match by registering an 8-4 victory. Earlier, Arika defeated Japan’s Yuzuki Sawae in the quarterfinals. She won on the basis of senshu (first point scored) when the tie was 1-1.
Arika will receive 15 lakh rupees from the Nepal government after her medal. Coach Kushal Shrestha will receive three lakh rupees while assistant coach Chhori Dangol will receive 1.5 lakh rupees after the medal.
This is Nepal’s second medal in the 19th ASIAD. Earlier, the women’s kabaddi team won the bronze medal. This is Nepal’s 26th medal in ASIAD history. Earlier, Nepal had won 24 medals, including two silvers and 22 bronzes. Nepal’s Sabina Shrestha is yet to compete in the 50 KG category in Karate.
Nepal have won two medals in the same ASIAD edition for the first time in 17 years. Nepal, limited to a bronze each in 2010 and 2014 won one silver medal in 2018.
