Kathmandu, January 8

Central Sports Committee of Nepal Armed Police Force felicitated its players and coaches amidst the Player of the Year Award ceremony today.

IG Durja Kumar Rai honoured six players — karateka Sunil Lama, boxers Saraswoti Rana and Purna Bahadur Lama, spiker Saraswoti Chaudhary and footballers Ranjan Bista and Anjan Bista — with the Most Valuable Player awards, while karate coach Deepak Shrestha was named the Coach of the Year.

Similarly, Milan Rai and Anita Basnet (football), Mahendra Shrestha and Binita Budhathoki (volleyball), Bishal Pradhan and Sichhya Shrestha (badminton), Basant Regmi and Karuna Bhandari (cricket) were named the APF Player of the Year in their respective sports disciplines.

Likewise, Manoj Thagunna and Uma Rai (handball), Puran Rai and Mala Rai (boxing), Bijay Lama and Anu Adhikari (karate), Bharat Bohara and Apsara Karki (taekwondo), Mangal Prasad Tharu and Susmita Tamang (wushu), Gopi Chand Parki and Kanchhi Maya Koju (athletics), Shiva Sundar Gothe and Selikha Khadki (table tennis), Shyam Krishna Shrestha (ITF taekwondo) and Debika Khadka (judo) were declared the APF Player of the Year Award.

Also, APF artists Rajib Bajracharya and Anita Ranjitkar along with Agni Group Director Arjun Sharma, General Secretary of All Nepal Football Association Dhirendra Pradhan, Pramod Chaudhary of Chaudhary Traders and Ramesh Rupakheti of RJ Sports were also honoured on the occasion.

IG Rai lauded the performance of the Nepal APF Club players and officials in national and international tournaments. "The players have made us proud with their performances. They have put in their best efforts and contributed a lot to our institution as well the nation," said Rai, the former international volleyball player.

"We have got the best athletes with us and they have proved their caliber to meet our expectations," said Rai, who also thanked coaches and officials for preparing sporty environment for athletes. "We will continue our support in the development of sports in the country," Rai added.

Nepal APF Club, which was established in 2004, has been taking part in 26 different sports disciplines, apart from organising three national-level tournaments — badminton, tennis and women’s volleyball.

According the APF Club, it has so far won 42 gold, 30 silver and 27 bronze medals in international tournaments, while the APF players have bagged 714 gold, 583 silver and 579 bronze medals in national events.