Curtain comes down on seven-nation meet

Kathmandu, Oct 4: Dazzling fireworks lit up the night sky and athletes mingled with each other in the true spirit of sporting friendship ...

Kathmandu, Oct 4: Dazzling fireworks lit up the night sky and athletes mingled with each other in the true spirit of sporting friendship as the curtain came down on the last South Asian Federation Games of the millennium at the Dasarath Stadium here today.

All eyes turned skywards as the breath-taking fireworks display brought an end to 10 days of intense competition among seven countries, trying to break the shackles of mediocrity and carve a niche for themselves in the sporting world.

Setting aside on-field rivalries, athletes presented a happy picture as they waved to the crowd and mixed with each other for one last time before re-assembling at Peshawar in Pakistan two years hence to renew the battle.

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The fireworks display and a laser show, which kept the capacity crowd enthralled, were the highlights of the three-hour closing ceremony which was attended by a host of dignitaries.

The rich cultural heritage of the Himalayan Kingdom again came to the fore during the ceremony as the snow leopard HuinKancha, the mascot of the Games, bid farewell to all the visiting athletes who vied for honours in the 12-event sporting extravaganza which returned to this picturesque city after 15 years.

Regional powerhouse India reaffirmed their overwhelming supremacy in South Asia with 102 gold medals while hosts Nepal took the second position.

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