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South Asian Games: Women Mean Medals. A Record Haul Of 312 Medals

At the South Asian Games, women are the passive-aggressive champions. With 312 medals one can see women triumph written all over the scoreboard.

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Ria Das
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South Asian Games: Women Mean Medals. A Record Haul Of 312 Medals

Indian women athletes are smashing it and how. They are at the top of their game and the recent result of South Asian Games campaign is proof. India ended with a whooping record haul of 312 medals. Bagging the greatest number of medals, they have now finished on top for the 13th consecutive time in as many editions.

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Crunching numbers tell all:

  • India bagged 174 gold, 93 silver and 45 bronze, surpassing the record of the 309 (189 gold, 90 silver and 30 bronze) back in 2016.
  • This year India’s gold medal tally was less by 15 medals.
  • Nepal was second but way behind with 206 medals (51 gold, 60 silver and 95 bronze) and Sri Lanka took third place with a haul of 251 (40 gold, 83 silver and 128 bronze).
  • Since 1984, when the South Asian Games began, India has topped in each edition.
  • The last day saw us add 18 medals (15 gold, two silver and one bronze) and the boxers punched their way to six gold and one silver.

Women are the passive-aggressive champions here. Women triumph is written all over the scoreboard. Here is a list of women athletes who rocked at the South Asian Games 2019, held in Kathmandu, Nepal.

Mehuli Ghosh Shoots Gold, Betters World Record

India’s shooters made a mark at the South Asian Games. Of them, the youngster Mehuli Ghosh, 19, stunned the industry with her recent performance by winning the gold in the 10m air rifle category.

India’s shooters made a mark at the South Asian Games. Of them, the youngster Mehuli Ghosh, 19, stunned the industry with her recent performance by winning the gold in the 10m air rifle category.

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Mehuli stole the limelight from other shooters and completely dominated the event as she finished with top podium finish with an exceptional score of 253.3. In doing so, she surpassed the previous record held by another Indian, Apurvi Chandela, which she had achieved at the International Shooting Sport Federation (ISSF) World Cup to clinch the gold medal in February 2019.  She outclassed her senior’s record score, thus creating a new unofficial world record as the results of the South Asian Games aren’t recognised by the ISSF for maintaining records.

Notable shooters Annu Raj Singh clinched a gold medal and Gauri Sheoran won a silver medal in sports pistol.

In shooting, the team of Annuraj Singh, Esha Singh and Shri Nivetha won gold in the 10m Air Pistol event. Nivetha also won gold in the individual event to add further gloss to India’s sensational shooting season.

Boxer Pinki Rani (women's 51kg) Wins Gold

2014 Commonwealth Games bronze medallist Pinki Rani's brilliant punches, former World Championships silver medallist Sonia Lather (57kg) and Manju Bamboriya (64kg) contributed to India's gold medal tally in hard-fought encounters.

Finally, Sakshi Malik Wins Gold In Style

And we all cheered for Sakshi Malik when she bagged gold in the 62 kg women's category raising India's medal tally to 243 medals with 129 gold medals. Olympic bronze medallist Sakshi Malik led the charge to the top podium finish in the 62kg category with 10-0. Sakshi notched up all her matches, knocked her opponents down at the on-going SAG in Kathmandu on Sunday.

Another wrestler Anshu (women’s 59kg) also won gold.

Also Read: Don’t let the bronze change the colour of your heart: Mary Kom to Sakshi Malik

Olympic bronze medallist Sakshi Malik led the charge to the top podium finish in the 62kg category with 10-0. Sakshi notched up all her matches, knocked her opponents down at the on-going SAG in Kathmandu on Sunday.

22-Year-Old Swimmer Chahat Arora Wins A Surprising Gold

A 22-year-old Chahat Arora put on a brilliant show on Saturday and became the 50m breaststroke champion with a new short pool national record. Competing in a 25m short pool, on her debut at the international level in recent years, the Chandigarh swimmer clocked a timing of 33.46 seconds to claim gold at the event. She outclassed her compatriot AV Jayaveena at the International Sports Complex, Satdobato. This was Arora’s second medal of the week in the Nepal capital. On Friday, Arora had won a silver medal in the 100m breaststroke event with a timing of one minute and 13.4 seconds.

swimmer Chahat Arora 22-Year Swimmer Chahat Arora Takes Gold At South Asian Games 2019
PC: The Indian Express

The likes of Maana Patel, Annie Jain won gold medals in their respective categories.

Indian women won basketball gold by beating Nepal (127-46)

  • Handball players added one gold by winning the women’s event
  • In fencing also, India picked up gold on offer by finishing on top of the podium in the team events of women’s foil.
  • In the women’s 5000m race, India’s runners took home two medals with Parul Chaudhary and Priti Lamba claiming silver and bronze respectively.
  • Indians won the 50m backstroke women’s event while the 4x200m freestyle relay women’s teams also picked up gold medals.
  • In the women’s table tennis final, it was once again an all-India affair as Sutirtha Mukherjee defeated Ayhika Mukherjee for the gold medal.

Women in the volleyball team also won gold after defeating the host country, Nepal’s volleyball team!

Squash Saw India Win A Gold In The Women's Team Events

Women's squash team silenced Pakistani counterparts in the final with a 2-1 win

In fencing also, India picked up gold on offer by finishing on top of the podium in the team events of women’s foil.

READ:How Rajlakshmi Retesh Found Her Second Calling By Training Jawan Wives

Women’s Football Team Clinched Third Consecutive Gold

The Indian women’s football team bagged its third consecutive gold medal thanks to Veteran Ngangom Bala Devi. India triumphed with 2-0 over Nepal in the final in Pokhara, Nepal on Monday, and a dominating Bala Devi showed us what it is to be called an experienced player.

At South Asian Games, Bala Devi Powers India To Third Straight Gold At South Asian Games, Bala Devi Powers India To Third Straight Gold
PC DNA India

She started rough and handed her team the gold by netting a comfortable goal, finishing off with a fine victory over the hosts. The 29-year-old footballer is hailed as the Bhaichung Bhutia of Indian women’s football. Bala Devi has represented India since her International debut in 2005 and has recently grabbed ‘Asian Footballer of the Year’ nominee. She ended as the top-scorer of the competition by netting five goals in four matches.

Defending the crown, the likes of Sangita Basfore and Ratanbala Devi dominated proceedings from the middle of the park. Goalkeeper Aditi Chauhan, keeping up with her fantastic form in every tournament of the year, saves the day by not giving a chance to the opponent to kick a single goal in any of the five matches, turned provider when she found Bala, with a long ball upfield. The striker and goalkeeper led India to secure their third-straight gold medal.

India also clinched gold medal in Women’s Kabaddi; crushed Nepal 50-13 in the finals.

On that note, isn't that a fantastic end to the year. Now let's fix our target on Tokyo Olympics 2020. Only seven months to go!

Read More Stories By Ria Das

Women Athletes sports wrestling indian sportswomen Women’s Football #womenandsports India’s Women Wrestlers #SAG2019 Sakshi Malik SAG 2019 South Asian Games 2019 south asian games winners list
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