India enjoy South Asian Games Taekwondo success
Indian haul includes two gold and a handful of silver medals.
India celebrated a huge return in the South Asian Games taekwondo competition in Kathmandu on Tuesday with no less than nine medals won on the mat, including a pari of golds.
Turning up in the men’s team Poomsae (17 years and above to U-23), the trio of Lalthlamunapuia, Lalafakzuala, Daniel Lalhumthanga won the top prize, beating the Sri Lanka team comprising of Ranuka Pedi, Durayalage Isuru and Nimesh Thanthirige.
Meanwhile, Shishir Shrestha, Ashmin Raut, Dipendra Gurung, representing hosts Nepal, took the bronze.
Taekwondo gold number two
India’s second gold in the discipline came in the Pair Poomsae event (25 years and above to U-29 category) as the duo of Gaurav Singh and Harsha Singha edged past Sri Lanka’s Ranpatipura, Jayaweera and Nishshanka 8.310 - 8.150 for the gold. Nepal’s Jit Bahadur Bot and Parbati Gurung had to be content with a bronze after their show managed 8.130.
South Asian Games silver
India’s silver medals came in the men’s team Poomsae (23 years and above) with Ranjit Kumar, Soyam Singh and Laishram Singh taking the second spot while Mamta Shah, Shilpa Thapa and Geeta Yadav finished behind Nisha Darnal, Swastika Tamang and Sanjila Timalsina of Nepal for a silver in the women’s team Poomsae (17 years and above to U-23).
In the Pair Poomsae event (17 years and above to U-23), the Indian duo of Shilpa Thapa and Kunnal Kumar came mighty close but fell marginally short to Sri Lanka’s Isuri Mendis and Ranuka Durayalage and had to settle for a difference after the Lankan’s scored a total of 8.230 for their performance as compared to India’s 8.210.
Individual brilliance
In the individual category too, the Indians showcased their skills to clinch a handful of medals at the South Asian Games.
While Rahul Jain took the silver in the men’s Poomsae (23 years and above to U-23), Gangphung had to settle for a bronze in the 29 years and above category.
Among the women, Rupa Bayor won a silver medal in the 17 years and above to U-23 category while Prajakta Ankolekar finished second in the 29 years and above category.
The latest achievements helped India cement their place in the second position on the medal’s tally with six gold, 11 silver and nine bronze medals, while Nepal leads the tally with 16 gold, three silver and nine bronze medals to their name.