Nepal’s quarter-final against Sri Lanka in Nagoya was abandoned without a toss, with Sri Lanka advancing under the tournament’s higher-ranking rule.

With no reserve day, Nepal will bow out if rain cancels their quarterfinal against higher-ranked Sri Lanka, a rule coach Stuart Law calls ‘brutal’ for Associate nations.

Kumal clocks 1 minute 49.55 seconds at Mizuho Park Athletic Stadium, bettering his own national record.

Nepal’s 149/4 proved enough to top Group A after rain washed out their final preliminary match against Japan, setting up a quarterfinal against Sri Lanka on Tuesday.

Sandeep Jora and Lokesh Bam hit unbeaten half-centuries as Nepal posted 149 for one in a 15-over-a-side match after rain delayed the start by an hour.

Nepal’s five-wicket victory over Afghanistan has put them within reach of the last eight, but the Rhinos must beat hosts Japan on Saturday to keep their medal hopes alive.

The win has increased Nepal’s chances of marching on to the quarterfinals against Asian powerhouses. The Rhinos face Japan tomorrow.

A 34-25 victory over Sri Lanka sends the women’s team into the Asian Games semifinals. Up next is a showdown against world powerhouse India.

Nepal had lost to Afghanistan in the quarterfinals of the 2014 Asian Games in South Korea. Now, the duo come face to face after over a decade.

Euro School Hattigauda ‘A’ won the boys’ U-16 title, while Daffodil Public School claimed the girls’ championship as the inter-school tournament concluded in Kathmandu.

Tied 1-1 in career head-to-heads, Nepal’s top female Muay Thai fighters trade knockout threats ahead of their October 10 face-off.

A 34-24 win over Sri Lanka takes Nepal into the semi-finals and assures the team at least a bronze medal.

Karateka Tenzing Sherpa, 23, overcomes a difficult start, a semifinal defeat and his short temper to dominate Laos’s Xayasan Vatthana and secure Nepal’s first medal of the 20th Asian Games.

Karateka beats Laos’ Xayasan Vatthana 9-1 in repechage to secure bronze in men’s kumite +84kg category.

With eight karatekas, including star Arika Gurung and a kata team, eliminated in Nagoya, Sherpa remains Nepal’s sole hope to avoid a medal drought. He faces Macau’s On Tek Leong in the quarterfinal today.

He becomes the third Nepali boxer to fail to progress from the preliminaries. Four Nepali boxers are yet to face their opponents across different weight categories.

The women’s team rallied from nine down to beat Thailand 46-43 in Nagoya, while three group-stage losses ended the men’s medal hopes with a match still in hand.

Erika Gurung and two other karatekas reached the semifinals but failed to secure a medal on a frustrating day in Nagoya.

Wushu player Vijay Singhjali also exits in the opening round.

Reigning champions Lumbini kick off their title defence at Kirtipur, leading a 27-day fixture list that features 21 league matches and four playoff games.