Nepal’s women's cricket team have crashed out from gold medal contention after suffering a 41-run defeat to Sri Lanka at Pokhara grounds on Friday. Chasing a target of 119 runs, Nepal could manage only 77-9 in their 20 overs. Skipper Rubina Chhetri top-scored for Nepal with 19 runs. Kabita Kunwar added 13, Karuna Bhandari managed 12, while Apsari Begam scored 11 runs for Nepal. Sri Lankan bowler Sachini claimed three wickets, supported by Sandipani, who claimed two. Prior to this, Nepal had suffered a 10-wicket defeat to Bangladesh on Wednesday. Bangladesh and Sri Lanka will contest for the gold medal while hosts Nepal play against the Maldives for a bronze medal.

Nepal’s women team march into handball semis

Nepal’s women team entered the semi-finals of the handball tournament under the Games after defeating Bangladesh 26-24 for their second victory in their Group ‘B’ match at the Pokhara Stadium covered hall. Uma Rai contributed eight goals for the home team with seven of them coming from penalties. Nepal had defeated Sri Lanka 29-19 in their first match.

In sharp contrast, the men’s team crashed out from the group stage after suffering their second defeat in succession. Nepal lost 43-19 against Pakistan on Thursday. Mohammed Juber contributed 10 goals for the winning team while skipper Bishal Basnet contributed five goals for Nepal. Earlier Nepal had suffered a 37-30 defeat to Sri Lanka on Wednesday.

Nepal improve their performance in beach volleyball

Despite a disappointing performance in beach volleyball on Thursday, team Nepal appeared revitalised on Friday as both the men’s and women’s categories earned victories. The pair of Man Bahadur Shrestha and Dil Sunar secured a straight-set win 21-15, 21-18 against Sheikh Mohammad Sane and Haider Mohammad Imran of Bangladesh. The other men’s team of Raju BK and Sanju Shah brushed aside Mohammad Monir Hussain and Mohammad Ali Shahjah, also of Bangladesh 22-20, 21-16. In the women’s category, the pair of Binita Budhathoki and Nebika Choudhary humbled the Maldives’ Rasida Aminath and Safna Ibrahim 21-5, 21-6, while the pair of Kopila Uprety and Manisha Choudhary earned a 21-12, 21-12 win against Mosa Fatima and Rudaina Aminath of the Maldives.

Nepali pugilists mark a comfortable start

Nepali pugilists Sushil Thapa Magar, Bhupendra Thapa Magar and Sanil Shahi won their bouts on the first day of boxing event at Satdobato, under the 13th South Asian Games, to secure their semi-finals berth on Friday. Sushil brushed aside Mutunakapa PG of Sri Lanka in the men’s 49kg category. In another match, Shahi got the better of Nima Dorji of Bhutan in the 60kg category while Bhupendra secured a win against Dorgi Wangdi, also of Bhutan, through ‘referee stops the contest’. However, Dipak Shrestha was knocked out in the third round of the 75kg category by Ankit Khatana of India. Ashish Duwadi (91kg) and Punam Rawa (women’s 64kg) enjoyed walkovers from their opponents and have progressed to the finals.

Bangladesh enter basketball semis

Bangladesh entered the men's basketball semi-finals after a 78-67 victory over Maldives in their Group 'A' match of the basketball tournament under the Games at Dashrath Stadium covered hall in Tripureshwor on Friday. Sam Sujman Khan of the winning team contributed 27 points. In another match, India thumped Bhutan 138-63 on the back of 23 points from Paul Singh. In the women's section, India defeated Maldives 156-33. Harshima Kaur contributed 23 points for India.

India enter kabbadi final

India entered the women's kabbadi final on Friday as the winners in the round-robin league at the Nepal APF Club’s covered hall in Halchowk. India humbled Nepal 41-19 in the last match of the league stage. Despite the defeat, Nepal have already booked a place in the final as the group runners up. Bangladesh and Sri Lanka jointly finished third. In the men's round-robin league, Sri Lanka edged Nepal 34-22 and India saw off Pakistan 49-22.