Aichi, Japan, September 20, 2026 — Nepal’s Arika Gurung was eliminated in the women’s over-68 kg karate kumite semifinals at the 20th Asian Games in Japan after losing 2–1 to Kazakhstan’s world No. 1-ranked Sofya Berultseva.
Gurung reached the semifinals after defeating Jordan’s Yara Nasser 7–1 in the quarterfinals.
The semifinal was a rematch of the women’s over-68 kg final at the 19th Asian Games in Hangzhou, where Berultseva defeated Gurung. That result earned Nepal its first-ever karate silver medal at the Asian Games.
Although Gurung lost the semifinal, she remains in contention for a medal. She will compete in the bronze-medal bout later today.
Gurung also made history in 2025 by becoming the first Nepali athlete to win a medal in the Karate1 Premier League.
