Indian judokas opened their campaign with a bang with seven gold and a silver to swell their overall medal tally on the penultimate day of the 12th South South Asian Games here today.
Bhupinder Singh (60kg), Jasleen Singh Saini (66kg), Manjeet Nadal (73kg) and Karanjeet Singh Maan (81kg) won the gold medal in men's category, while Sushila Devi Likmabam (48kg), Kalpana Devi Thoudam (52kg) and Anita Chanu Angom (57kg) clinched the yellow metal in the women's section.
Sunibala Devi Huidrom lost to Phupu Lhamukhatri of Nepal in 63kg final to settle for the silver.
Glasgow Commonwealth Games silver and bronze medallists, Sushila Devi and Kalpana Devi led the charge in their respective sections.
Sushila defeated Humair Ashiq of Pakistan, while Kalpana got the better of Nepal's Lila Adhikar to finish on the top of the podium. Anita Chanu earned the third gold in 57kg when she defeated Nepal's Manita Shrestha Pradhan.
But India missed a clean sweep after a heartbreaking loss of Sunibala Devi.
The men's contingent, however, bagged all the four gold on offer on day one with Bhupinder opening the account after prevailing over his Afghan opponent Ali Popalzai in 60kg.
Jasleen grabbed the gold in 66kg, defeating Afghan's Mohammad Reshan Aryan while Manjeet beat Darmawardene RCN in 73kg final. Karnajit completed the sweep when he overpowered Ajmal Faiz Zada in 81kg final.
