Nepal bags silver in Asian Games after 20 years
August 29, 2018 Nepal has clinched silver medal, for the second time in the annals of 67 years of the Asian Games. The feat was achieved in the 18th editing of the Games underway in Indonesia.
The Nepali team contesting in the last round of paragliding of the ongoing 18th ASIAD (Asian Games) under men's cross country event bagged a silver medal today.
With this, Nepal has secured its second biggest medal in the Asian Games history. First one was clinched by Sabita Rajbhandari in the 13th edition of the Games held in Thailand in 1998. It was however in taekwondo she had got the silver. And Nepal had to wait for 20 years to clinch silver.
However, Nepal has not yet made it to gold medal tally so far.
It is the first time that the Nepali team was vying this sport and bagged silver in first attempt. The cross country contest was held at Gunung Mas Puncak in West Java of Indonesia for five days.
In today's final, Japan took away the gold medal by securing 11,391 points against 11,364 of Nepali team. Nepal had to be content with a silver by a slim margin of 27 points.
Nepali paragliding team headed by Bimal Adhikari comprised Yukesh Gurung, Bijaya Gautam, Sushil Gurung and Bishal Thapa.
With this win, Nepal has become 37th country to clinch a medal in the ongoing games. As of 18th Asian Games, Nepal has won two silver and 22 bronze medals. "I am very happy for Nepal to clinch the medal", shared Shailendra Raut, general secretary of Nepal Paragliding Association. He added, "We got success to win the medal in the first attempt".
Likewise, Nepal Team coach and manager Yogesh Bhattarai commented, "We are successful to break Nepal's void for medal in the ongoing ASIAD. It is the matter of pride for Nepali people".
Also importantly, Paragliding has raised its profile as a new game to win medal in the Asian Games. It has prevented Nepal from returning without a medal in the sports events after Nepal failed to perform well in the much-expected taekwondo, karate and boxing.
The 18th edition of Asian Games, regarded as the Olympics of the Asia, is ongoing in Indonesia where a total of 45 Asian countries are contesting in total 40 games.
Nepal is competing in different 29 games in this mega event.
Meanwhile, Prime Minister KP Sharma Oli has congratulated the Nepali paragliding team for being successful in clinching silver medal in the Asian Games.
Prime Minister Oli tweeted this evening to congratulate the medal winning paragliding team.
