BHAKTAPUR, FEBRUARY 20

Karateka Manday Kaji Shrestha and swimmer Gaurika Singh won the best players' awards under the NNIPA Sports Award at the historic Duipokhari in Madhyapur Thimi today.

Shrestha had won double gold medals in the 13th South Asian Games held on home soil in December 2019, while Singh had created history by winning nine medals including four gold medals in the regional sporting extravaganza. Shrestha and Singh received Rs 100,000 each sponsored by Global IME Bank.

Football team skipper Sujal Shrestha and taekwondo player Ayasha Shakya were named the talented athletes. Shrestha led the U-23 team that defended the football title in the 13th SA Games, while Shakya bagged two gold medals in the meet. They earned Rs 50,000 apiece sponsored by USA Everest Taekwondo. Golfer Subash Tamang and wrestler Sangita Dhami won the rising player of the year awards. Tamang had bagged double gold medals in the SA Games, while Dhami claimed first-ever gold medal in wrestling.

They received Rs 50,000 each sponsored by Sky Fit.

The best athletes were selected from among the 26 winners of their respective sports disciplines by a committee led by former NNIPA President Deepak Bista. The NNIPA had decided to include 26 sports disciplines - which were included in the 13th South Asian Games - in the 15th edition of the award.

Senior karate coach Akbar Shah was honoured with the Gajaraj Ideal Sports Personality Award, while Roshan Raut bagged the NNIP Sports Journalism Award. Shah was the chief coach of Nepali karate team that won 14 gold medals in the eighth South Asian Federation Games held in Kathmandu in 1999. Shah received Rs 35,000, while Raut got Rs 20,000.

The winners of the awards in various sports disciplines as recommended by their respective national associations included Gaurika Singh (swimming), Manday Kaji Shrestha (karate), Sujal Shrestha (football), Purshotam Bajracharya (table tennis), Kalpana Pariyar (shooting), Kul Bahadur Thapa (volleyball), Bikash Thapa (weightlifting), Pradeep Khadka (tennis), Rabina Thapa (fencing), Kalpana Oli (handball), Bipana Blon (squash), Meenu Gurung (boxing), Shyam Budhathoki (khokho), Ratnajit Tamang (badminton), Sony Tamang (triathlon), Anjali Chand (cricket) and Ayasha Shakya (taekwondo).

Likewise, Subas Tamang (golf), Devika Khadka (judo), Sanatan Malla (archery), Juni Rai (wushu), Anusha Malla (basketball), Sangita Dhami (wrestling), Menuka Kumari Rajbhandari (kabbadi), Santoshi Shrestha (athletics), and Buddhi Bahadur Tamang (cycling) won the awards. They received Rs 10,000 each - Rs 5,000 apiece from their respective national associations and the NNIPA. Keshav Thapa of table tennis was named the para-athlete player of the year.

The NNIPA organised the ceremony under the auspices of Madhyapur Thimi Municipality. Global IME Bank, Kelme Nepal, Plaza Hotel Group, National Sports council, Nepal Olympic Committee, Gajaraj Joshi Trust, Shreenath Collection, Raika Tours and Travels, Sky Fit and Adarsha Samaj Bikash Kendra were the sponsors and partners of the programme.