Ojha named best coach; Pradhan bags Youth trophy; Koju claims People’s Choice award Kathmandu, September 11 Footballer Kiran Kumar Limbu and badminton player Nangsal Tamang won the Player of the Year honours of the Pulsar Sports Award 2073 here at the Nepal Academy Hall today. National football team goalkeeper Limbu won the men’s category title leaving behind shuttler Ratnajit Tamang, cricketer Sharad Vesawkar, athlete Som Bahadur Kumal and spiker Man Bahadur Shrestha. Limbu played key role when Nepal won the AFC Solidarity Cup held in Malaysia last year. Limbu saved three penalties against Laos in the semi-finals of the competition. Limbu was also the key member of the TC Sports Club of Maldives that claimed the Sheikh Kamal International Club Cup in Bangladesh. Executive Director of Hansraj Hulaschand and Company Shekhar Golchha handed over the trophy to Limbu’s mother Harka Maya Rai as the custodian is currently playing professional football in Maldives. Shuttler Tamang won the women’s category award. Long-distance runner Kanchhi Maya Koju, archer Gyanu Awale, footballer Sabitra Bhandari and athlete Saraswoti Bhattarai were the other nominees in the category. Tamang came into limelight when she won mixed doubles gold medal — Nepal’s first ever — along with her brother Ratnajit in the Pakistan International Series. She also finished third in women’s singles category. Olympian Sangina Baidya and CEO of Dish Media Network Sudeep Acharya handed over the trophy to Tamang. Long-distance runner Kanchhi Maya Koju won the People’s Choice Award ahead of cricketer Dipendra Singh Airee, swimmer Gaurika Singh, judoka Phupu Lhamu Khatri and footballer Sujal Shrestha. The winner of the category was decided through SMS voting and Facebook likes. Koju got 66,834 votes out of 95,726 votes, while footballer Shrestha got 16,078 and cricketer Airee got 8,774 votes. Koju proved her metal after winning seven out of eight events last year apart from setting national records in half marathon and full marathon. Editor of The Himalayan Times Prakash Rimal gave away the trophy to Koju. Similarly, judoka Manita Shrestha Pradhan bagged the youth category award leaving behind cricketer Dipendra Singh Airee, footballer Ananta Tamang, weightlifter Kamala Shrestha and volleyball player Pratibha Mali. Judoka Pradhan had won bronze medal in the 10th Cadet Asian Judo Championship in India. She also claimed gold medals in the seventh National Games, Valleywide Ambika Memorial and Olympic Day events. President of Nepal Golf Association Tashi Ghale and Editor of Annapurna Post Rajaram Gautam handed over the trophies to the winner and nominees. The men’s national volleyball team was declared the team of the year. The team claimed bronze in the AVM Central Zone Volleyball Tournament in Maldives, which was first ever international medal. Station Manager of Radio Kantipur Dinesh DC and Director of Jawalakhel Group of Industries Srihar SJB Rana gave away trophies to the winners and nominees. Athletics coach Pushpa Raj Ojha claimed the Coach of the Year award. Football coaches Gyotoku Koji and Meghraj KC, cricket coach Jagat Tamatta and badminton coach Kiran Thapa were also in the race. Coach Ojha, who guided athlete Saraswoti Bhattarai and Hari Kumar Rimal in the Rio Olympics, helped Tribhuvan Army Club to 22 gold, 16 silver and eight bronze medals in the seventh National Games. President of Nepal Olympic Committee Jeevan Ram Shrestha and Vice-president of Surya Nepal Pvt Ltd Ravi KC handed over the trophies to the winners and nominees. The winners in male, female, coach and people’s choice awards received Bajaj Pulsar NS160 motorcycles, while others got Rs 50,000 apiece along with gift hampers from Surya Nepal, Dish Media and Sahas Sports. Cartoonz Crew, comedian Sandeep Chhetri, singer Astha Raut, and Circus Kathmandu performed during the award ceremony.