Kathmandu : Anisha Tharu of Bagmati Province shattered an 18-year-old national record in the girls’ triple jump soaring 11.27 meters to secure gold during the 15th President’s Running Shield in Kathmandu on Friday.

Her record-breaking leap eclipsed the previous mark of 10.80 meters set by Keshari Chaudhary in 2007 at the Dasharath Stadium.

Bagmati also emerged as the distant champions in the three-day multi-sports event with a commanding haul of 36 gold, 7 silver, and 11 bronze medals across six disciplines.

Defending champions Sudurpaschim Province settled for second place with 14 golds, 20 silvers and 18 bronzes. Lumbini, the winners of past three consecutive editions (11th–13th), finished third with 5 golds, 13 silvers, and 15 bronzes.

Gandaki came fourth, followed by Karnali, Madhesh, and Koshi. Koshi, despite collecting 7 silvers and 8 bronzes, failed to win a single gold. Madhesh remained medal-less in athletics.

Nine National Junior Records

The athletics events witnessed a total of nine national junior records. Three of them came on the final day. 

• Girls’ 4x100m relay: Bagmati’s team of Dina Gopali, Anisha Tharu, Bhagwati Khadka and Suruchi Moktan clocked 51.9 seconds, breaking the previous record of 54.2 set by Lumbini in 2022.

• Boys’ 4x100m relay: Bagmati’s Prabin Rana Magar, Santa Darai, Suvin Lama and Niraj Shah set a new record of 43.4 seconds, surpassing Lumbini’s 44.0 seconds set in 2023.

• Girls’ Triple jump: Anisha Tharu’s 11.27m effort set the highlight record eclipsing the previous mark of 10.80 meters set by Keshari Chaudhary in 2007

Anisha, Prabin bag four golds each 

Bagmati’s Prabin Rana Magar and Anisha Tharu were standout performers, claiming four gold medals each. Prabin secured 100m, 200m, 4x100m relay and 4x400m relay
Anisha earned golds in long jump, triple jump, 4x100m relay, 4x400m relay along with a silver in the 400m.