Kathmandu, April 3
Shuttler Prince Dahal and footballer Anjila Tumbapo Subba won the Player of the Year awards under the 17th NNIPA Sports Award here today.
Former world No 1 badminton player Dahal and national women's football team skipper Subba were picked up from among the 26 best players in their respective sports disciplines. They earned Rs 100,000 each sponsored by Global IME Bank.
Likewise, national golfer Sadbhav Acharya and karateka Chanchala Danuwar bagged the emerging player of the year awards. They received Rs 50,000 each. Khadga Ranabhat was honoured with the Gajaraj Ideal Sports Personality award, while Boccia player Subhekshya Khatiwada was named the para-athlete of the year. Ranabhat earned Rs 35,000, while Khatiwada received Rs 15,000.
Ranabhat expressed his gratitude to the NNIPA for the honour. "I have spent 60 years in sports and I have won a number of accolades in my career. But this one is special for me," he said. Likewise, senior sports journalist Dhruva Tuladhar was honoured with the NNIPA Sports Journalism Award and he received Rs 25,000.
Earlier, archer Imayu Rai, athlete Deepak Adhikari, shuttler Prince Dahal, basketball player Anusha Malla, boxer Sushma Tamang, cyclist Nisma Shrestha, fencer Omkar Singh, football Anjila Tumbapo Subba, golfer Sadbhav Acharya, gymnast Narayan Manandhar, handball player Bishal Nepali, hockey player Kamala Chand, judoka Sanjit Dangol and kabaddi player Ghana Shyam Roka Magar were named the best players in their respective sports disciplines.
Likewise, Chanchala Danuwar (karateka), Mohan Rana (rafting & canoeing), Sushmita Nepal (shooting), Sangita Lama (ski), Alexander Shah (swimming), Sikka Suwal Shrestha (table tennis), Rohit Rana (tennis), Shrebi Maharjan (triathlon), Salina Shrestha (volleyball), Bishal Singh Bista (weightlifting), Sushila Chand (wrestling), and Sushmita Tamang (wushu) also won best player awards.
All the 26 best players received Rs 10,000 each. The best players were recommended by their respective national sports associations. NNIPA had included 27 sports affiliated to the Nepal Olympic Committee but Nepal Taekwondo Association did not send the name. NNIPA President Deepak Shrestha said the 18th edition of the awards would be hosted by Lalitpur Metropolitan City at Patan Durbar Square.
National Sports Council Member Secretary Tankalal Ghising, Nepal Police AIG Tekraj Rai, former national football team member Lt Col Janmat Karki, NNIPA President Shrestha, honorary president Deepak Bista, Gaja Raj Joshi Trust President Manish Joshi, Nepal Karate Federation President Yuvaraj Lama and Kelme Nepal MD Uttam Neupane among others handed over the prizes to the winners.
A version of this article appears in the print on April 3, 2023, of The Himalayan Times.
