Hosts Nepal overcame last moment odds to pull on the 13th South Asian Games and won an unprecedented 51 gold medals.

The 14-club competition with a winners’ purse of Rs 5 million kicks off at 3 pm tomorrow.

Powerhouse India’s absence in major games, high altitude, cold weather and home advantage contributed to Nepal’s dramatic medal haul.

Bhupendra Thapa stuns India's Commonwealth silver medalist, while Minu Gurung becomes first Nepali female boxer to win South Asian Games title.

Gold medal hopefuls Indra Bahadur and Manita Shrestha Pradhan settle for silver on Day 1 of judo competitions.

On Saturday, Nepal also struck its first women’s marathon medal as Pushpa Bhandari finished second.

The Armed Police Force runner has his eyes set at winning a marathon gold by bettering the record set by legendary Baikuntha Manandhar in 1987.

The 17-year-old finished with 14-under 274 to register eight-stroke win over Bangladesh's Md Fahrad.

Nepal added six gold medals on Thursday to take their tally to 96 medals, including 35 gold and 23 silver.

While the 21-year-old toiled hard to beat Akshay Hooda of India 29-27, Apsara Karki, Manita Shahi and Kiran Bahadur Ale lost their final bouts.

The hosts extend their tally in taekwondo to 11 gold, 3 silver and 9 bronze medals. Deepak Hamal adds a third wushu gold.

Six more gold medals are up for grabs in cross country, road race and time trial.

Put into bat first, the home team set a decent target of 173-5 despite losing opener Paras Khadka for just one run.

The hosts win two gold medals each in taekwondo, karate and wushu and a gold each in athletics and triathlon.

In a photo finish, Shrestha, who had led the race from the very first lap, won by ten milliseconds.