Nepali failed to record a single win in 11 disciplines they contested on Sunday. The only consolation was Gurung, who despite being eliminated from the heats, was able to grab a personal victory by bettering his own national record over the distance. Gurung finished the course in 1:10.23 to break his own previous mark of 2:12.37.

“I am happy to have set new mark but we need Herculean efforts to hope medal at the Asian level,” said Gurung. Another Nepali swimmer Sonira Bista also finished bottom of the women’s 100m breaststroke heats with the timings of 1:32.24.

Shooter KB Pun also finished bottom of the 57-nation standings in the men’s 10m Air Rifle. In Sepak Takraw, Nepal lost 21-4, 21-9. Wushu also bungled after the players put on a meek performance. Oshin Rai finished last on the list of eight players in the women’s sansou event. Rai did not fare any better in women’s changsau either, also finishing last. In the men’s daosou, Rinji Sherpa came seventh with 8.66 points. There were only seven participants in the event after three players from Afghanistan pulled out.

It was the same outcome for Sherpa in men’s thaulo where finished seventh with 8.54 points. Dhanbir Maharjan suffered 2-0 loss against Hamid Reja of Iran in below 75kg sansou while Som Bir Tamang (65kg) fought hard in his 2-1 loss to against Subanbek  Bojo of Kyrgyzstan. Weightlifter Bikash Thapa trying his luck in men’s 62kg was fifth in Group B which consisted of six players. He lifted a total of 228kg—105kg in snatch and 123kg in clean & jerk. Gymnasts Nishan Simkhada and Kabin Raj Shrestha put on a dismal performance as Simkhada finished 65th in the floor exercise while Shrestha ended up 67th spot.

The football team crashed out of the group stage without a win after losing their last Group B match against holders Japan 4-0. Gakuto Notsuda provided the defending champions the 32nd minute lead  before Suzuki completed added two goals in the 63rd and 71st minute. Nakajima scored another in between in the 54th minute.

The women’s cricket team also failed to live up to their expectation as they lost the opening match against Thailand by six wickets on Sunday. In the Group D opener, Nepal’s batting was exposed as they managed to put on 64-8 in 20 overs. Nary Thapa and Mamta Thapa were the only two batswomen to show some resistance. The 36- run fifth wicket stand between Nary (18) and Mamta (17) was the only bright spot in the Nepali innings.

Nattaya Boochatham, who also grabbed two wickets, remained 24 not out as Thailand accomplished the target in 15.2 overs for the loss of four wickets. Sarita Rana Magar finished with figures of 2-16. Nepal next play Malaysia on Monday. In the Group C match, China defeated Hong Kong by four wickets.

Shuttlers, who had provided a ray of medal hope by advancing to the quarter-finals of men’s team event the previous day, were knocked out by Malaysia 3-0 on Sunday. Nepal’s top ranked shuttler Ratnajit Tamang succumbed to 21-10, 21-12 loss against Li Chong Wi. Sanjan Krishna Tamrakar also lost 21-3, 21-4 to Julkarnain Bin Jainuddin. Bikash Shrestha went down 21-11, 21-13 against Win Feng Chong. On Saturday the men’s team had registered a 3-0 win over Macau.

Lawn tennis players fared even worse. The men’s team lost to India 3-0 in the second round. Abhishek Bastola was able to break the duck in his 6-0, 6-1 loss to Sanak Krishna Singh but Jitendra Pariyar suffered a double bagel 6-0, 6-0 against Yuki Bhambri. In the men’s doubles, Santosh Khatri and Dawa Sonam Sherpa were also double bagelled by Saketh Sai Menon and DV Sharan.  

Judoka Fupu Lhymu Khatri was eliminated from the first round as she lost the women’s below 63kg bout to Ya Ju of Chinese Taipei.