Kathmandu, October 17

Nepal Sports Journalists Forum felicitated its former President Niranjan Rajbanshi for being elected as the Treasurer of the Asian Sports Press Association (AIPS-Asia) today.

Rajbanshi was re-elected in the post from the extraordinary congress of the AIPS-Asia held in Islamabad, Pakistan on October 6. Nepal Olympic Committee President Jeevan Ram Shrestha, Nepal Golf Association President Tashi Ghale and Nepal National and International Players Association Deepak Shrestha congratulated Rajbanshi.

NSJF President Mahesh Acharya, first Vice-president Devendra Subedi, General Secretary Prakash Timalsina, Spokesperson Pawan Acharya, PJ Club President Bikash Karki, Nepal National and International Players Association Deepak Shrestha and Nepal Olympic Committee President Jeevan Ram Shrestha congratulated Rajbanshi amid a function.

NOC President Shrestha opined that Rajbanshi was able to gain the height in international forum because of his dedication towards his profession. “Also, I am impressed with the team spirit of NSJF and the sports fraternity should learn a lot from them in running the associations,” said Shrestha. “The achievement is not only of Rajbanshi or NSJF, but the whole country should be proud of it.”

NGA President Ghale said Nepali sports journalists were above their international counterparts. “We lack sponsors and are poor in infrastructure but the dedication of our sports journalists towards sports is way above the journalists from other parts of the world,” added Ghale. NNIPA President Deepak Shrestha said Rajbanshi was an inspiration for Nepali players. “I hope he will get even better opportunity in coming days,” he said.

Likewise, NSJF President Acharya said his association had not imagined of getting such a height within a decade. “We became the member of the AIPS-Asia in 2006 and we have been able to send our representatives in international bodies. We will continue to do so in future and give opportunities to new members,” said Acharya.

AIPS-Asia Treasurer Rajbanshi, who garnered 18 votes against seven received by his Syrian rival Abeer Ali in the elections, said Nepali journalists could take a lot of benefit by conducting training and through exchange programmes. “Since I hold influential post in AIPS-Asia, I will try my best to take as much benefit I can for NSJF and its members,” said Rajbanshi, who joined AIPS-Asia as an executive committee member in 2012 and was elected the treasurer in 2015.