KATHMANDU, JANUARY 26

The Nepal National and International Players Association today announced the date and venue of this year's NNIPA Sports Award.

The NNIPA is organising the Award under the auspices of Madhyapur Thimi Municipality at Duipokhara on February 10. After successfully organising the Award at Bhaktapur Durbar Square, Tokha, Patan and Basantapur in previous years, the NNIPA joined hands with Madhyapur Thimi Municipality for this edition.

The NNIPA will reward one each male and female player from 26 sports disciplines in this year's Award, informed the organisers at a press meet today. "The selection of sports and athletes will be based on the 13th South Asian Games held in Kathmandu, Pokhara and Janakpur in December 2019," said NNIPA President Deepak Shrestha.

The NNIPA will declare the winners and reward them with Rs 10,000 each. "The winners will be decided as per the recommendation of their respective national associations, who will also contribute half of the prize money," said Shrestha. The NNIPA will select one each male and female player as the best athletes of the year from among the winners. The best players will be awarded with Rs 100,000 each and Global IME Bank is the sponsor of the category.

The NNIPA has added the Rising Player of the Year category from this edition under which one each male and female athletes will be awarded with trophy and Rs 50,000 each. The NNIPA has joined hands with Sky Brand Nepal as the category sponsor for this award. US Everest Taekwondo has been sponsoring the Talented Players category that carries cash reward of Rs 50,000 each to male and female athletes.

Likewise, the NNIPA will honour an athlete with the Gajaraj Joshi Ideal Sports Personality Award along with Rs 35,000, while a sports journalist will be awarded with NNIPA Sports Journalist Award that carries a prize of Rs 25,000.

The NNIPA has formed a selection committee to pick the athletes under its Honorary President Deepak Bista, while vice-president Deepak Thapa is the ceremony coordinator.