Kathmandu, February 12 National and International Players Association honoured late weightlifter and coach Sunil Lal Joshi with the Gajaraj Joshi Ideal Athlete Award during the 12th NNIPA Award Ceremony here in Tokha today. Lifter Joshi, the highest international medal winner with 13 medals in the South Asian Games from six participations, represented Nepal in first five and seventh edition of the regional sporting extravaganza. The award is sponsored by Gajaraj Joshi Memorial Foundation in memory of Nepal’s first international marathon runner. Similarly, sports journalist Shyam Chitrakar was awarded with the NNIPA Journalism Award. Chitrakar, the first cameraman of Nepal TV, has been active in sports journalism for four decades. Joshi’s widow and Chitrakar got Rs 25,000 each. NNIPA also awarded the best players of 35 sports disciplines during the ceremony. Footballer Kiran Chemjong, national cricket team skipper Paras Khadka, volleyball player Pratibha Mali, karateka Parshuram Bastoal and table tennis player Shyantu Shrestha were honoured with the NNIPA awards. Similarly, shooter Ashmita Rai, boxer Sunil Thapa, weightlifter Dinesh Thapa, gymnast Raju Rai, lawn tennis player Mayanka Rana, kabaddi player Bijay Kumar Chand and soft tennis player Pradeep Khatri also got the award. Uma Rai of handball, cyclist Rajesh Magar, Pradeep Rajbanshi of hockey, chess player Madan Krishna Kayashta and squash player Arahant Keshar Singh along with shuttler Ratnajit Tamang, basketball player Sadeesh Pradhan, Sushmi Shrestha of full contact karate, Tulasa Rajthal of ITF taekwondo and sepak takraw player Anil Gurung were felicitated by the NNIPA. Likewise, kho-kho player Dil Kumari Tamang, bodybuilder Maheshwor Maharjan, snooker player Deepak Magar, taekwondo player Rejina Karki, wushuka Nima Gharti Magar, judoka Phupu Lhamu Khatri along with archer Prem Prasad Pun, swimmer Sirish Gurung, athlete Kanchhi Maya Koju, fencer Sandeep Lama, golfer Shukra Bahadur Rai, triathlon athlete Basant Tharu and wrestler Saroj Yadav also got the awards. The best players received Rs 10,000 each along with the trophy. The best players were recommended by their respective national associations, while the NNIPA had formed a three-member committee under Immediate Past President Deepak Bista to select the winners of other two awards. National Sports Council Vice-president and General Secretary of Nepal Olympic Committee Lama Tendi Sherpa, Tokha Municipality Mayor Prakash Adhikari, NSC Member Sudil Shahi and NNIPA President Deepak Shrestha among others handed over the awards to the winners.