Adhikari, Shahi claim PoY Awards

Pokhara, August 5

Lawn tennis player Kumar Adhikari and volleyball player Aruna Shahi won the player of the year awards in the Pokhara Sports Award here at the Pokhara Academy Hall today.

Adhikari left behind cricketer Karan KC and handball player Bishal Basnet in the men’s category.

Adhikari, who was the national champion from 2007 to 2012, had won gold medal in men’s doubles and mixed doubles categories as well as bronze medal in singles during the seventh National Games held in Eastern Region last year.  His father Durga Adhikari received the award on his behalf.

Similarly, spiker Shahi beat karateka Sushmi Shrestha and weightlifter Tika Maya Gurung in the women’s category.

Member of the women’s national volleyball team, Shahi was the best server during the RBB NVA Women Club League Volleyball held in April in Kathmandu and helped Western Region finish third in the seventh National Games.

Volleyball player Mamata Dagaura, who also plays athletics and football, was named the emerging player. Dagaura defeated Darshana Budha Magar and Sagar Nepali of athletics. The 14-year-old Dagaura was the member of Western team that won bronze in the seventh National Games.

Taekwondo coach Sun Bahadur Lama, who holds the fifth Dan degree, bagged the best coach award leaving behind Bakhat Man Shrestha of weightlifting and Indra Malla of athletics. Lama has been in coaching since 1995. He is also a coach of Tribhuvan Army Club.

Former athlete Khadga Ranabhat received the Lifetime Achievement Award. The 69-year-old Ranabhat, former coach and member of National Sports Council, had represented Nepal in the sixth Asian Games held in Thailand in 1970. The two-time Olympian had participated in the 3,000m steeplechase race in Asiad

Kaski District Lawn Tennis Association got the best association award. Kaski Coordination Committee of Nepal Sports Journalists Forum organised the event. The player of the year in men and women sections received Rs 25,000 each and other winners got Rs 10,000 apiece.

Mayor of Lekhnath Municipality Man Bahadur GC, Nepal Sports Journalists Forum President Mahesh Acharya, General Secretary Prakash Timalsina, Federation of Nepali Journalists Kaski branch President Dipendra Shrestha, Sahara Club President Bir Bhadra Acharya, NSJF Kaski President Keshav Pathak among others handed over the awards.