Three national records tumbled on the opening day of the National Swimming Championships under the eighth National Games in Nepalgunj on Sunday.

Teenaged sensation Gaurika Singh, who represented the Army club, bettered her mark in women’s 50m backstroke besides winning gold in 800m freestyle. Tenzing NR Gurung and Subham Shrestha, both from Nepal APF Club set new records in men’s 50m backstroke and 100m breaststroke events.

The-16-year-old Singh, who was the youngest athlete in the 2016 Olympics, clocked 30.85 seconds to better her previous mark of 31.22. Remarkably, she was even faster than men’s 50m backstroke winner Gurung, who also set new national record with the timings of 32.81 seconds. He shattered previous national record of 33.57 seconds held by Miraj Prajapati.

Anushka Pokharel of Nepal Police Club was distant second in women’s 50m backstroke with the timings of 38.46 second. Yuska Maharjan of APF bagged bronze clocking 40.41 second. Jayanta Prakash Gurung of Province 3 secured silver in men’s 50m backstroke clocking 34.13 second while Tarun Bhandari of Police won bronze with timing of 34.59.

Subham Shrestha clocked 1:08.15 to better his own previous national record of 1:08.34 minute on his way to clinch gold. Sayed Hamza Shah (1:08.87) and Dipankar Awale (1:13.37) of NPC won silver and bronze medals.

Tsering Gurung

Singh clocked 9:39.22 minute in winning the women’s 800m freestyle gold, almost two minutes faster than her closest rival Upaasti Maharjan of Army club. Maharjan clocked 11:09.22 and Sameera Shova Thapa of NPC timed 11:16.0 for her bronze medal.

Nathan Dorje Sherpa of Non Residential Nepali Association struck gold medals in men’s 800m freestyle and 200m butterfly. He clocked 9:17.00 in winning the 800m and 2:18.10m in sealing the 200m buttery title. APF duo Nasir Hussain (9:40.93) and Urgen Maharjan (10:91.91) bagged silver and bronze medals in men’s 800m freestyle. Anubhav Subba (2:20.44) of Army and Sayde Hamja Shah (2:57. 38) of NPC secured men’s 200m butterfly silver and bronze.  

Duana Lama of the Army club won women’s 100m breaststroke and 200m butterfly gold medals. She won the 100m breaststroke in 1:18.93, far behind her own national record of 1:16.99.

Tisa Shakya (1:21.06) of APF won silver and Upaasti Maharjan (1:21.47) of Army claimed bronze. Lama won the 200m  butterfly gold in 2:40.9. Shreebi Maharjan (3:13.13) and Diya Sthapit (3:24. 69), both of APF, earned silver and bronze.