KATHMANDU: Hunt for gold in the 11th South Asian Games finally ended on the 10th day on Sunday.

Wushu player Binita Maharjan and karateka Sunil Lama of the Armed Police Force won a gold medal each to bring cheers to Nepalis who have been frustrated seeing Nepal’s dismal run in Dhaka with 16 bronze and five silver medals.

There is also good news from boxing. Ajit Gurung has confirmed his berth in the finals.

Maharjan won the gold in taichichwan of thaulo, while Lama struck gold in the men’s kumute in the under-55 kg category beating his Indian opponent 2-1. Gurung, meanwhile, defeated Afghanistan’s Mohammad Ajij 10-9 in a keenly contested battle to become the only surviving player from the Nepali team.

Bronze medalist in the same event in the South Asian Wushu Championship in Dhaka two years ago, Maharjan beat India and Sri Lanka respectively to win Nepal’s first gold medal with 8.85 points.
Maharjan, 21, had stepped into a dojo from her school at the age of 10. She now hopes to continue serving the game first as a player and later as a coach.

Nepal won two more silvers on Sunday through Anu Adhikari in karate and Bikash Gurung in wushu, ekantipur.com reported.