Kathmandu, September 6

Last year’s performance in national and international tournaments impressed Nepal Sports Journalists Forum’s selection committee to nominate long-distance runner Kanchhi Maya Koju, shuttler Nangsal Tamang, archer Gyanu Awale, footballer Sabitra Bhandari and athlete Saraswoti Bhattarai for the Player of the Year (Female) category under the Pulsar Sports Award slated for September 11 at the Nepal Academy Hall.

The winner of the category will take home a Bajaj Pulsar NS160 motorbike as well as gift hampers from Dish Home, Surya Nepal, Horizon Carpets and Sahas Sports.

Long-distance athlete Koju, who is also nominated in People’s Choice Award category, was at her best when she bagged seven out of eight events last year apart from setting national records in half marathon and full marathon. She also won gold medals in 5,000m and 10,000m races in the seventh National Games.

Archer Awale came into limelight when she claimed silver medal in team event of 70m recurve category in the International Solidarity Archery Championship in Bangladesh and set national record of 303 points while winning gold medal in 70m recurve in the seventh National Games.

Badminton player Tamang won mixed doubles gold medal along with her brother Ratnajit in the Pakistan International Series and finished third in women’s singles category. The gold medal Tamang siblings won in Pakistan was the first for Nepal in badminton.

Striker Bhandari, who scored 13 international goals and 29 in national tournaments, became the first Nepali woman footballer to complete a double hat-trick in the fourth SAFF Women’s Championship in India.

Likewise, athlete Bhattarai broke the 26-year-old national record in 1,500m race in the Rio Olympic Games and also claimed gold medals in 1,500m, 800m and 4x400m relay in the seventh National Games.