Shailesh finishes with 10 golds

BIRGUNJ, Feb 28: As swimming events at the Sixth National Games concluded on Tuesday in Birgunj, Shailesh Rana of Central Region finished with the highest 10 gold medals in the men´s section and a total of 14 medals. In the women´s category Shreya Dhital took home the highest 12 medals, which included eight golds.



Central Region clean swept all 27 gold medals and also won silver and bronze medal in the relay events. Altogether, 81 players from five regions had participated in swimming. [break]



Rana fell two golds short of the record of Karishma Karki who had won 12 gold medals during the Fifth National Games.



Rana won gold in all five events he competed on Tuesday to finish with 10 golds. On Tuesday, Rana won golds in men´s 50 m butterfly, breaststroke, backstroke, freestyle and 400 m relay. On Sunday and Monday, Rana had won gold medals in 200 m breaststroke, 100 m and 200 m backstroke, 100 m butterfly and 200 m individual medley. Rana had set a national record during the heat rounds of 200 m medley.







Similarly, 13-year-old Shirish Gurung of Central Region finished with four golds and silvers each and two bronze medals. Gurung bagged golds in 100 m, 200 m, 400 m and 400 m relay.



Under women´s category, Shreya Dhital of Central Region topped the medals tally with eight gold and four bronze medals. She bagged golds in 50 m, 100m and 200 m backstroke, 50 m and 100 m butterfly, 50 m backstroke and freestyle, and 400 m relay.



Shaila Rana, the elder sister of Shailesh, finished behind Dhital with five golds, six silvers and a bronze. Shaila clinched golds in 200 m freestyle and individual medley, 100 m and 50 m breaststroke and 400 m relay.



Four swimmers -- Shailesh, Shaila, Shreya and Shishir -- took home 49 of the total 81 medals, including 26 gold, 20 silver and three bronze medals.



Shakti Rana of Kathmandu was one of the happiest fathers after the completion of swimming events. The father of Shailesh and Shaila saw his children return home with 27 medals including 15 golds. "Now the cupboard will be full of gold medals. The achievement of my children has made me proud."



Similarly, Shreya Dhital´s mother Anita Dhital said she was proud of her 11th grader daughter. Shreya´s younger sister Aditi won gold in 400 m relay only. However, she was delighted with her daughter´s achievement.

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