KATHMANDU, DECEMBER 22

The Ministry of Youth and Sports today felicitated seven athletes with the National Player Talent Award.

Ayasha Shakya (taekwondo), Monday Kaji Shrestha (karate), Subash Tamang (golf) and Laxmi Magar (cycling) received the awards along with Rs 100,000 each.

Shakya, Shrestha and Tamang had bagged double gold medals — individual and team — in the 13th South Asian Games held on home soil last year, while cyclist Magar had won gold in downhill event.

Samir Shrestha (bodybuilding), Bikash Thapa (weightlifting) and Santoshi Shrestha (athletics) got Rs 66,666 each. Except for bodybuilder Shrestha, two others had bagged gold medals in the SA Games.

Likewise, two coaches — Kushal Shrestha (karate) and Nabin Kumar Shrestha (taekwondo) — were feted with Rs 50,000 each. Taekwondo won 12 gold, six silver and 11 bronze medals in the SA Games, while karate claimed 10 gold, four silver and five bronze medals in the regional sporting extravaganza.

Also, judo referee Dharma Kumar Maharjan, Dr Gyanendra Bikram Shah and Nepal Golf Association also received Rs 100,000 each.

The ministry also honoured Qatar Airways and Kathmandu Metropolitan City.

Qatar Airways had sponsored the Martyrs Memorial ‘A’ Division League, while Kathmandu Metropolis had provided financial support to the ‘A’ division outfits of the city apart from helping the All Nepal Football Association to organise the school-level tournament.

The Ministry had called for applications in all categories and the winners were decided from among the 52 applicants. Minister Jagat Bahadur Sunar, Secretary Ram Prasad Thapaliya, National Sports Council Member Secretary Ramesh Kumar Silwal, Nepal Olympic Committee Secretary General Nilendra Raj Shrestha felicitated the winners.