Nepal Claims Second Medal at Asian Games After Hard-Fought Kabaddi Semifinal Run
Nepal secured a well-deserved bronze medal in women’s kabaddi at the 20th Asian Games after putting up a spirited fight before falling 48-24 to powerhouse India in the semifinal showdown held at the Tokai Citizen Gymnasium on Friday. India asserted its dominance early in the contest, establishing a commanding 31-17 lead by halftime before tightening its defensive grip and outscoring Nepal 17-7 in the second half to secure a definitive victory and punch its ticket to the tournament’s gold medal match. Nepal’s journey to the podium featured a hard-fought group-stage campaign where the team demonstrated remarkable resilience, bouncing back from an opening loss against Chinese Taipei by securing a crucial victory over Thailand and sealing their coveted knockout-stage berth with a decisive win against Sri Lanka in their final group fixture. This semifinal outcome mirrored the exact scenario from the previous 19th Asian Games held in Hangzhou in 2023, where Nepal similarly faced elimination at the hands of the Indian squad in the women’s kabaddi semifinal stage. Despite the disappointment of missing out on the final, claiming the bronze medal represents a proud milestone for Nepalese athletics, marking the nation’s second overall medal secured at the ongoing 20th Asian Games and underscoring the steady growth and competitive spirit of women’s kabaddi in the country.
