LG to sponsor PoY Awards

Kathmandu, August 5:

Nepal Sports Journalists Forum (NSJF) and LG Electronics of Chaudhary Group signed a sponsorship deal for the NSJF-LG Player of the Year (PoY) Awards-2006/07 here today.

NSJF president Niranjan Rajbanshi and Senior Marketing Manager of LG Electronics Ramesh Shrestha signed a memorandum of understanding at the Direction Exhibition and Convention Centre today.

The LG, which was also the chief sponsor last year, agreed to provide Rs 300,000 in cash and kind for the mega event scheduled at the Birendra International Convention Centre on August 20.

NSJF general secretary Hemanta Raj Kafle announced the inclusion of one new category as promised last year. “We have included the sixth category — Special Award for a player or a team for their remarkable achievements,” said Kafle.

Last year, NSJF had awarded five individuals — best male, female, youth, coach and lifetime achievement. Binod Das (cricket), Nirmala Bharati (athletics), and Kanishka Chaugain (cricket) won the best male, female and youth PoY awards while Roy Luke Dias was declared the best coach. Athlete Gajaraj Joshi was honoured with the lifetime achievement award.

“The winners of all the six categories will get Rs 10,000 and LG Dynamite mobile set worth around Rs 15,000 along with gift hampers from Attsh among others,” said NSJF president Rajbanshi.

Rajbanshi also said they will announce the five nominees each in four categories — male, female, youth and coach — within a week. NSJF has formed a five-member selection committee under its secretary Mahesh Acharya.

NSJF also revealed that the award ceremony would be aired Live on Nepal Television.

The estimated budget of the ceremony, as Kafle said, is

Rs 950,000. “Other major financial supporters of the event include the National Sports Council and Nepal Olympic Committee,” added Kafle.