Tribhuvan Army Club athlete Jayarani Tharu set her individual third national record in athletics as the Ninth National Games saw four new records in Pokhara on Tuesday.

Tharu set another record in women’s long jump, adding to her record timings in the women’s 100 metres hurdles and the 400 metres hurdles. Besides Tharu, her Army teammate Som Bahadur Kumal and Nepal Armed Police Force (APF) Club’s Ramita Kumari Tharu finished the 400m sprint in record times. Salim Dewan of APF also set a new best in the men’s long jump event.

Jayarani jumped 5.58m to claim the gold and break Lumbini Province’s Nisha Chaudhary’s previous mark of 5.47m set at the National Athletics Championships in June. Chaudhary walked away with silver with a jump of 5.49m while Shila Chaudhary of APF took bronze at 5.31m.

Kumal shattered a 32-year-old record in the men’s 400m race clocking 47.95seconds to earn gold. He eclipsed Asharam Chaudhary’s record of 48.32 seconds set in Beijing in 1990. Ashish Chaudhary of APF earned silver at 49.40 and Prakash Danuwar of Army took bronze clocking 49.90.

APF athlete Ramita finished with a new record in the women’s 400m clocking 58.10 second for gold. Her best was off the Tulasa Khatri’s record of 59.57 seconds created in China in 2019. Nirmala Thapa of Army took silver at 1:00.14 and Kalpana Shrestha of APF earned bronze at 1:00.70.

The men’s long jump saw Salim Dewan of APF leap 7.06m to set a new national record and grab a gold medal. He shattered 23-year old record of Krishna Bahadur Giri’s 7.00m set in Islamabad in 1999. Dilli Khatri of Army secured silver at 6.98m and Narayan Chaudhary of Gandaki finished with bronze with a jump of 6.82m.

Anish Thapa Magar of Gandaki and Bindra Dhanke Shrestha secured men’s and women’s marathon gold. Thapa Magar clocked 2 hours 22 minutes and 54 seconds to finish the 42.195km long distance race. Krishna Basnet of Army took silver clocking 2:23:14 and Santosh Bikram Bista of APF walked away with bronze taking 2:30:58.

Dhanke Shrestha of APF clocked 2:57:23 to take home women’s long distance gold. Bishwarupa Budha of Army finished behind her with a timing of 3:00: 34 and Rekha Bista of Nepal Police Club grabbed bronze clocking 3:01:35.

Only 10 runners completed the distance among 18 participants in the men's event. Thapa Magar, who has been working in the Indian Army for the last 13 years, said that he was happy to win gold at the home course.

“I took leave to compete in the event and I am overwhelmed to win the gold,” said Thapa Magar who secured second position at Gorkha Marathon held last month. He also said that he would be available to play for the country if he is called.

Rana Magar, Khanal win individual time trial events

APF’ Suraj Rana Magar and Army’s Usha Khanal won gold medals in the men’s and women’s individual time trial event in cycling.

Rana Magar took 34 minutes 4.309 seconds to complete the 20km distance to secure top finish.

The race was held on the Yamdi-Hemja Highway in Pokhara.

Army’s Himal Tamata took 36 minutes 45. 419 seconds to take home silver. APF’s Laxman Malla finished third taking 36 minutes 50.446 seconds.

In the women’s time trial, Army’s Khanal clocked 38 minutes 31.410 seconds to clinch gold. APF’s Humi Budha Magar won silver recording 42 minutes 20.886 seconds while Army’s Manju Kumari Khadka timed 42 minutes 55.962 seconds to bag bronze.

Sudurpaschim, Army dominate women’s wrestling

Sudurpaschim and Tribhuvan Army Club shared five golds each in women’s wrestling while APF Club claimed four in men’s section in Kawasoti, Nawalparasi East, on Tuesday.

Among 10 golds each in either category, Army wrestlers Laxmi Tamang secured gold in women’s 57kg, Sushila Chand in 62kg, Nirmala Jagari in 65kg, Mira Aauji in 68kg and Rachana Shrestha in 76kg divisions.

Sudurpaschim wrestlers Damyanti Bohara won women’s 50kg gold, Manisha Singh 53kg, Sangita Dhami 55kg, Komal Khatri 59kg and Hema Bhatta 72kg.

Departmental team APF wrestlers Kundan Shah secured gold in men’s 57kg division, Sujit Yadav in 65kg division, Umesh Kumar Thakur in 70kg division and Baliram Yadav in 69kg division. Madhesh wrestlers Amresh Kumar Yadav grabbed gold in 61kg, Lal Bahadur Yadav in 86kg and Raj Yadav in 125kg divisions.

Army’s Suresh Chunar secured 74kg gold, while Police’s Sumir Shah clinched 97kg gold and Lumbini Province’s Ramesh Gotame took home 92kg gold.