Three more pugilists of Nepal entered boxing's finals of the South Asian Games in the matches held at Karate Hall in Satdobato, Lalitpur, on Sunday.

Mala Rai (51kg), Sanil Shahi (60kg)and Ganesh Pradhan (81kg) won their semi-final bouts, thus joining six other Nepali boxers to reach the finals.

Earlier, Lalita Maharjan (48kg), Minu Gurung (54kg), Sangita Sunar (60kg) and Punam Rawal (64kg) had made to finals in the women's section. Ashis Duwadi (above 91kg) and Bhupendra Thapa Magar (64kg) had reached the men's finals.

Rai defeated Kosla Nilmini of Sri Lanak in the women's semi-final while Shahi got the better of Nisanka Wamunu Arachil of Sri Lanka in the men's event. Similarly, Pradhan was declared the winner after his Indian opponent Sachin Kumar sustained injuries 30 seconds into their semi-final bout.

There will be eight final bouts each on Monday and Tuesday. Boxing features total of 16 gold medals.

Women team win beach volleyball bronze

Nepal women’s beach volleyball team comprising Binita Budhathoki and Nebika Chaudhary secured a bronze medal at the 13th South Asian Games in Pokhara on Sunday.

The duo edged home team’s Kopila Upreti and Manisha Chaudhary 21-12, 19-21, 16-14 in the third-place playoff match to secure the medal. The two teams of hosts competed for the bronze after finishing runners-up in their respective groups. The group winners — both teams from Sri Lanka — automatically secured final berths.

Sri Lanka's women's team of Deepaika Jadera and Madhusani Wirasinghe won gold, defeating compatriots Laxini Tharuka and Dinesha Prasadini 19-21, 21-15, 15-8.

The men’s volleyball teams from the hosts Nepal crashed out from the group stage. In the all-Sri Lankan final the duo of Pradip Asanka and Ashen Kumar’s edged Indica Teron and Jayan Sanuja’s pair 24-22,21-23.

This is the first time that beach volleyball was included in the South Asian Games. Teams from Nepal, Sri Lanka and the Maldives have participated in both men's and women's events while the teams from Pakistan and Bangladesh also took part in men's category.

India dominate the wrestling events

Indian wrestlers dominated proceedings as they won gold in each of the categories they participated in the third day of wrestling events in Janakpur on Sunday. They claimed gold in men’s 61kg and 86kg categories alongside women’s 59kg and 62kg segments. Nepal won two silver and two bronze medals. Both the silver medals came in the women’s category. Sushila Chand finished second in the women’s 65kg, Nirmala Jagari won silver in the women’s 72kg category while Komal Khatri earned a bronze medal in the women’s 59kg category. In the men’s 92kg category, Nepal’s Sumir Kumar Shah won a bronze medal.

Of the seven weight categories contested on Sunday, India won four golds, Sri Lanka earned two top podium finishes along with two silver and one bronze medals, and Pakistan won the other gold medal. Bangladesh won one silver and four bronze medals.

Of the total 20 gold medals in wrestling, 18 top podium finishes have been decided by Sunday. India have won 12 gold medals followed by Pakistan with three and Sri Lanka with two. Nepal have won one gold, four silver, and eight bronze medals.

Nepal land another fencing silver

Nepal earned their second silver at the fencing events of the 13th South Asian Games in Kathmandu on Sunday. Nepal won the silver in women’s team foil segment. Prior to this, Rabina Thapa had won a silver in sabre on Saturday. Meanwhile, the men’s team earned a bronze in team sabre. The women’s team who had brushed aside Bangladesh in the semifinals lost to India in the gold medal clash. Bangladesh and Sri Lanka finished with a bronze apiece. India also won the gold in men’s team epee. Bangladesh won the silver while Pakistan and Sri Lanka ended with a bronze each. Meanwhile, the gold medal in men’s sabre also went to India where they defeated Bangladesh. India have won eight gold medals in fencing by Sunday. With Bangladesh winning one gold, other nations have failed to secure a top podium finish. Three events for gold medals are scheduled for Monday.