India kabaddi team impress on South Asian Games day five
India also wins medals for weightlifting and athletics in Kathmandu on Thursday.
The Kabaddi team continued to shine on day five of action at the South Asian Games, as they trounced southern neighbours Sri Lanka 49-16 at Kathmandu’s Hallchowk Stadium.
India’s attackers Pawan Sehrawat and Naveen Kumar were in stellar form right from the very beginning in the kabaddi game against Sri Lanka, as they put the team in strong position through their first few raids. The Indian kabaddi team took a 25-9 lead into the half-time interval, completely outclassing their Sri Lankan counterparts.
Post the interval, substitute Darshan Kadian stole the show, with his brisk running hand touches and agile movements augmenting India’s lead even further in the tie. By the time the final whistle blew, India had a lead of 33 points as they claimed a comfortable win over Sri Lanka to set up a clash against Pakistan.
Indian track and field delight at South Asian Games
There was plenty to celebrate for India in track and field events at the South Asian Games.
In the men’s triple jump category, Karthik Unnikrishnan won gold while compatriot Mohammed Salahuddin claimed the silver medal.
In the men’s 400m race, Asian Games silver medallist KS Jeevan bagged a bronze while Aparna Roy and Surendhar Jayak won silvers in the women’s and men’s hurdles races respectively.
South Asian Games Weightlifting gold for India
In the women’s 45kg category, India won its first medal for weightlifting at the South Asian Games, with Jhilli Dalabehera winning a gold. She lifted a combined weight of 151kgs (66kg for Snatch and 85kg for Clean and Jerk) to convincingly claim top spot on the podium. Second-placed Srimali Samarakoon of Sri Lanka could only lift 139kgs.
India’s lifters claimed another gold later in the day, with Sneha Soren claiming top spot in the 49kg category. Soren lifted a cumulative weight of 157kgs (68 + 89), which was two kilos more than silver medallist Gomas Bomiriyage Dinusha Hansani of Sri Lanka.
Football and badminton triumphs
India’s women’s football team have made it through to the finals of the 2019 South Asian Games after they slammed six goals past a hapless Sri Lankan side at Nepal’s Pokhara Stadium. Sandhiya R. and Ratanbala Devi scored two goals each as India claimed a comprehensive win in their second group game.
With respect to badminton, Indian shuttler Ashmita Chaliha cruised through to the finals after beating Sri Lankan Ratnasiri Kapuru Mudiyanselage 21-5, 21-7.