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.
Nepal moved to 14th in the ICC T20I rankings after defeating Afghanistan by five wickets at the Asian Games, strengthening its quarterfinal prospects before facing Japan.
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