And takes first gold in taekwondo

From Our Correspondent

SHILLONG, Feb 13: India’s P And has taken India to the top by clinching the first gold medal in the under 87 kg category in Taekwondo in SouthAsian Games by defeating Afghanistan’s Ramesh Hossani.

Supporters rose to their feet chanting and cheering for India’s fighter as he continued to score points in the three rounds of 2 minute bouts.

Even as Afghan’s Ramesh Hossani attempted to get back in the second bout with his swift strikes, And maged to maintain his posture by winning a total of 27 points.

Bronze medals went to Som Penjor and Ramhari Mahat of Bhutan and Nepal respectively.

However, India had to give in to Afghanistan  in the male under 54 kg category, as Abrar Khan could not return the kicks from Mohsen Razaei.

While Afghanistan bagged gold in this category, India had to contend with Silver.

Doten Dorji of Bhutan and TR Dharmapriya of Sri Lanka tool the bronze medals.

In the Female under 46 kg category, Pakistan Yasmeen M Khan defeated Nepal’s Reji Karki to walk away with Gold as Wargmu Karma of Bhutan and Munni Suma of Bangladesh got the bronze medals.

In the Male under 68 kgcategory, Afghanistan’s Rohullah Nikpa beat Pakistan’s veed Khan with a Technical Knockout (TKO) to clinch the gold medal, while India’s veen and Sri Lanka’s PS Hettilarachi got the bronze medals.

It may be mentioned that in today’s matches there were two TKOs when India’s P And striked Sri Lanka’s CT Serathne in the first round of the Quarter Fil bouts.

The second TKO was in the Male under 68 kgs category when Afghanistan’s Rohullah Nikpa’s swift thrust landed hard in Pakistan’s veed Khan’s thigh throwing him to the ground and rendering him breathless for sometime.

Today’s matches saw quiet a few disputes during the men’s fights, calling for reviewing of the hits that were not called by the referee, also drawing the technical judges to approach the referee for clarifications. Coaches of Afghanistan and Pakistan had a few complaints to the judges.