By Sachit Subba • Other Sports • Sep 30, 2026 05:34 AM • 727 views
The four Nepali judokas suffered serious setbacks at the current 20th Asian Games when they were eliminated in the preliminary rounds at the Aichi International Arena. Having gone to the continental event with national hopes, they had difficulty adjusting to the high level of international competition.
For Vikas BK the session became a nightmare in the men's 60kg category. Although he had been given a bye in the first round, he soon came up against Samariddin Kuchkarov of Uzbekistan, who is an elite Asian Junior World Champion. From the very first bell Kuchkarov took the lead and dominated the Nepali fighter, achieving an ippon win just 48 seconds into the four-minute match.
Family ties had little effect on the bad luck experienced on the mats. In the men's 66kg event, Vishesh BK, Vikas's brother, put up a sturdier fight. He contested the match throughout with Hong Kong's Wong Ka Ki, but eventually lost by a waza-ari decision after a tough four-minute exchange.
The same sort of situation occurred in the women's competitions. Nisha Shrestha was defeated by Hong Kong's Wong Ka Lee with an ippon after having only stayed in the 48kg class for 2 minutes and 32 seconds. In the 52kg event, her elder sister Devaki Maya Shrestha showed the composure of an experienced competitor facing off against Vietnam's Lam Thi Ngan Ha. During the intense tactical match both competitors received shido yellow cards. Yet Nepal suffered heartbreak in the final moments when, with only 20 seconds remaining, Devaki Maya gave up the important yuko point, putting an end to her chances of making a comeback.
Once the first group of competitors have been eliminated, the responsibility for Nepal's judo campaign passes on. Nepal will have the opportunity to regain a sense of pride when Punam Shrestha takes to the mat in the women's 70kg event and Sujan Gurung enters the men's 90kg division, together with the upcoming mixed team matches.
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