Himal Tamata, who claimed duathlon gold in the South Asian Games for Nepal on Tuesday, had borrowed trisuit from Soni Gurung. Gurung is the same player who had claimed the first gold of the Games for hosts in women's sprint under triathlon.

Gurung had also borrowed the trisuit, the dress an athlete wears in triathlon, from another friend. "National Sports Council should have handed over the trisuit one month prior to the Games. But we got the dress two days prior to the games and it did not fit me," Tamata said after winning the gold. "The dress should have been imported from Germany but they brought it from India. Even my bicycle is five-year-old," he complained.

Trisuit is used in all three events of triathlon — swimming, running and cycling. Gurung competed wearing a swimsuit during her gold medal haul on Monday. Tamata believes that Nepal triathletes could have done better if they had good quality bicycles and equipment. "The players should have been given the utmost priority."

Tamata was involved in sports since his childhood and represented the far-western region in athletics while he was 15. After joining Nepal Army while he was 23-year-old, he was inspired to join duathlon by Nepal Army coach Rajiv Chand. He had won silver in the mixed team event under the 12th edition of Games in Guwahati in 2016. "Now I want to win a medal at the Asian Games," he said.

Tamata had clocked 57 minutes 33 seconds to secure gold in duathlon that consists of 5km running, 20km cycling and 2.5km running. His national team colleague Laxman Shrestha stood second finishing the overall event in 59:13. Shrestha had defeated Tamang to claim gold in the Eighth National Games held in April. Asith Perera of Sri Lanka stood third clocking 59:32.

In the women's duathlon, Humi Budamagar of Nepal won silver completing the event in 1 hour 8 minutes 54 seconds. She finished behind Sri Lanka's Eranga Dulakshi who clocked 1:05:58. Her compatriot Udaya Kumari took bronze, clocking 1:09:09.

Nepal's coach Yubaraj Silwal said the result came as expected in the men's category while there were some weaknesses in the women's event. "The outcome could have been better and we could have added more gold if we had got the equipment on time," said Silwal, adding that they hope to win mixed team event gold on Wednesday.

Nepal Triathlon Association President Nilendra Raj Shrestha announced a cash prize of Rs 100,000 for gold medalist, Rs 50,000 for silver and Rs 25,000 for bronze medalist players.

Nepal have collected two gold and as many bronze medals after the second day of the triathlon. Nepal are set to compete in the mixed relay on the last day of the triathlon. The event being held at Lakeside in Pokhara features two players each from Nepal, India and Sri Lanka.