Santoshi Shrestha’s dramatic win in the 10,000-metre race at the South Asian Games was quite literally a photo finish. Shrestha, who set a new record in Nepali athletics by securing a middle distance gold for the first time, won by ten milliseconds, edging out India’ Kavita Yadav.

“I wasn’t thinking of the medal. I was focused on running my best,” said Shrestha, a public health researcher who only started pursuing athletics professionally two years ago. The 10,000-metre race on Tuesday was her international debut. “I was frightened because other runners were experienced while I was making my debut. I thought they’d kick in at the last moment.”

On Tuesday, Shrestha clocked 35 minutes 7.94 seconds to Yadav’s 35 minutes 7.95 seconds. Nilanthi Lanka of Sri Lanka came in at a distant third at 35 minutes 59.02 seconds.

“I wanted to prove that even non-departmental [Nepal Army, Nepal Police and Armed Police Force] players can excel in sports,” Shrestha, who still has the 5,000 metres race on Thursday, told the Post.

Besides legendary marathoner Baikuntha Manandhar, who took three consecutive golds and retains the South Asian record he set in the 1987 edition of the Games, Shrestha is the only non-departmental Nepali athlete to win gold in a middle-distance race.

From the very first lap, Shrestha led the race, chased closely by Yadav. In the 25th and final lap, a nail-biting drama unfolded with the two athletes just 2o metres away from the finish line. Yadav suddenly overtook Shrestha and blocked her path but with a burst of speed and a swift curve, Shrestha took the lead, before both athletes crossed the finishing line within ten milliseconds of each other. A machine installed at the finishing line confirmed Shrestha as the winner.

“I tried to pick up pace in the final 200 metres but later, I just decided to go all-in and quickly moved to the right,” Shrestha, who hails from Jwalamukhi in Dhading, told the Post.

Shrestha first started running at the age of 13 and had participated in a few road races without any formal training.

“I used to jog every day and trained myself on the weekends and holidays,” she said.

Her formal training started two years ago after former Olympian and coach Raghu Raj Onta spotted her during a race at Durbar Marg and convinced the self-taught runner to join the athletics team.

“She finished third, ahead of ultramarathoner Mira Rai, behind champions Kanchhi Maya Koju and Bishwarupa Budha,” said Onta. “She has all the qualities of an athlete. She is mentally strong and has the ability to make quick decisions.”

Coach Onta believes that Nepali athletes like Shrestha could make a dent at the Asian Games, given proper planning and a long term vision.

“Nepali players have the ability to win medals at the Asian level,” he said. “In the next few years, we will see new faces in track and field.”

Veteran marathoner Koju agrees with Onta.

“We are capable of making a strong presence at the Asian level, but there must be regular training and good facilities for players,” she said. “If we really want to compete in the Asian Games, we must start systematic and well-planned training right now. It’s not just the best athletes who need training but also emerging ones so that we are on the right track to groom future stars.”

Koju still holds the national record of 35 minutes 3.43 seconds, set during the 2006 Colombo South Asian Games. Koju had won silver then. Shrestha on Tuesday bettered her personal best of 37:50.53 set at the Eighth National Games in April finishing third.