Asian Games judo: Medal hope Punam Shrestha eliminated in first round

Nepali judoka Punam Shrestha, who was expected to contend for a medal, was eliminated in the first round at the 20th Asian Games currently underway in Japan.

In the women's under-70kg category held on Thursday at Aichi International Arena, she lost to India's Takhellambam Inungambi by ippon.

Punam, who won gold at the 13th edition of the South Asian Games, is regarded as the most experienced Nepali judoka. This was her first international competition since returning to the mat after an injury layoff of nearly two years. Due to her injury, Punam was unseeded, while her opponent Inungambi was seeded 45th.

With this defeat, Nepal has now lost in five of the seven judo events it has competed in. On Wednesday alone, four Nepali players were eliminated after losing their respective first bouts. In the women's under-48kg category, Nisha Shrestha lost to Hong Kong's Wong Ka Lee, and in the under-52kg category, Devkimaya Shrestha lost to Vietnam's Thi Ngan Ha. On the men's side, Bishesh Bik lost to Hong Kong's Wong Ka Kei, and Bikas Bik lost to Uzbekistan's Samariddin Kuchkarov.

Nepali judo players have yet to win a single bout at this Games. In the men's under-90kg category, Sujan Gurung's bout was also scheduled for the same day.