By a Staff Reporter
Pokhara – Gaurika Singh of Tribhuvan Army Club (TAC) bagged the first gold medal in the 9th National Games. Gaurika, who missed 4 events due to illness, won the gold medal in the 100m backstroke on Sunday. This is the first event she completed in an ongoing swimming competition.
Gaurika won the gold medal in the 100m backstroke clocking 1 minute 5.5 seconds at the swimming course of Fishtail Academy at Pokhara. NRNA’s Ashley Sapkota Dangol, who won 4 gold medals earlier limited to silver and Anushiya Tandukar of TAC won bronze. Ashley clocked 1 minute 8.79 seconds and Anushiya completed the prescribed distance in 1 minute 13.8 seconds.
TAC’s team including Gaurika clinched the gold medal in the 4×100-meter relay. The squad of Gaurika, Duwana Lama, Anushiya Tandukar, and Upasti Maharjan clocked a time of 4 minutes 19.45 seconds to complete the distance. While, the Bagmati team consisting of Tisa Maharjan, Shrenu Maharjan, Xaria Maharjan, and Rosha Neupane won the silver medal, Megan Gurung, Samira Shobha Thapa Magar, Arya Maharjan and Adipsa Vaidya involved Nepal Police Club won the bronze.
Gaurika stepped down from the 800m freestyle and 200m freestyle on Sunday. She withdrew her name from the final round of 100m freestyle and 200m backstroke on Saturday after suffering stomach pain and vomiting. Gaurika left the final round after participating in the heats of 100m freestyle and 200m freestyle.
Gaurika is yet to play 50m backstroke, 4x200m backstroke, 400m freestyle, 50m freestyle, and 4x100m mixed freestyle.
