Asian Para Games: Palesha Goverdhan misses out on medal in taekwondo

Nepali para taekwondo athlete Palesha Goverdhan has missed out on a medal at the 5th Asian Para Games underway in Aichi-Nagoya, Japan.

In the bronze medal bout of the women's K-44 under-57kg category, she lost 18-6 to Iran's Maryam Abdollahpour Derouis. Palesha, who was down 4-0 after the first round, also lost the second round 14-6.

Fourth seed Maryam, 19, has previously competed at the Paris Paralympics. She had won bronze in the under-47kg category at the Hangzhou Para Asian Games.

After losing her first bout, Palesha had earned a chance at bronze through the repechage route. In the repechage, she defeated Kazakhstan's 34-year-old Kamilya Dosmagalova 14-10.

At the Hangzhou Games semifinal, Palesha had also lost to Dosmagalova, who went on to win silver there. With this win, Palesha avenged that defeat.

However, having won bronze at the Hangzhou edition, Palesha was unable to repeat a medal this time in Japan.