Kathmandu, December 28

Lifter Kamal Bahadur Adhikari and karateka Anu Adhikari were named the Outstanding Athletes at the NNIPA Sports Award organised by Lalitpur Metropolitan City Ward No 16 under the auspices of Nepal National and International Players Association here at the Patan Durbar Square today.

Adhikari duo was selected from among the winners of the 29 sports disciplines included in the Award. They received Rs 100,000 each sponsored by Janata Bank. The NNIPA had formed a three-member committee under Olympian Deepak Bista to select the Outstanding Athletes along with Gajraj Joshi Ideal Sports Personality Award and Sports Journalism Award.

Lifter Adhikari had participated in three national events and four international tournaments in the year 2074BS. He won gold medals along with the titles of the best lifter in all three national tournaments — Sunillal Joshi Weightlifting Championship, NSC Championship and Inter-club Weightlifting Championship. In international events, he won three each bronze medals in Asian Inter-club Weightlifting Championship and Asian Cup Weightlifting Championship, both in South Korea. He also claimed two bronze medals in the third Fajr Cup in Iran and also took part in the Senior Asian Weightlifting Championship in Ashgabat.

Likewise, karateka Adhikari took part in three international and one national events winning gold medals in all four tournaments. She bagged international gold medals in Australian Open Karate Championship, Berlin Open International Karate Championship and Thailand Open Karate-Do Championship. She also finished first in the NSC Championship.

Former chief coach and General Secretary of Nepal Weightlifting Association Parth Sarathi Sen Gupt received the Gajraj Joshi Ideal Sports Personality Award, while Treasurer of AIPS-Asia Niranjan Rajbanshi got the NNIPA Sports Journalism Award. Gupt and Rajbanshi received Rs 25,000 each.

NNIPA also awarded one each best players of 29 sports disciplines with Rs 10,000 apiece — Rs 5,000 each from the organisers and their respective national associations. The winners included Ramesh Bhattachan (Archery), Bishwo Rupa Buda (Athletics), Nangsal Tamang (Badminton), Manish Raj Rajopadhyay (Basketball), Bimala Shrestha (Boxing), Narayan Gopal Maharjan (Cycling), Janga Giri (Fencing), Sabitra Bhandari (Football), Tanka Bahadur Karki (golf) and Bandana Rai (Handball). Likewise, Manoj Chaudhary (Hockey), Manita Shrestha Pradhan (Judo), Nageshwor Tharu (Kabaddi), Anu Adhikari (Karate), Santosh Bohara (Kho-Kho), Pranav Khanal (Lawn Tennis), Sunita Tamang (National Taekwondo), Rupesh Sunuwar (Sepak Takraw), Susmita Nepal (Shooting), Yukesh Yonjan (Soft Tennis), Bhawana Sunuwar (Squash), Gaurika Singh (Swimming), Santoo Shrestha (Table Tennis), Asmita Khadka (Taekwondo), Basant Tharu (Triathlon), Em Rana Magar (Volleyball), Kamal Bahadur Adhikari (Weightlifting), Maya Lahor (Wrestling), and Amar Sunar (Wushu).

NSC Member Secretary Keshab Kumar Bista, NOC President Jeevan Ram Shrestha, NNIPA President Deepak Shrestha, Kathmandu Mayor Bidhya Sundar Shakya, Lalitpur Mayor Chiri Babu Maharjan and Janata Bank deputy CEO Ajaya Mishra among others handed over the prizes to the winners.