January 8, Pokhara
Cricketer Dipendra Singh Airee and karateka Erika Gurung have won the Best Player awards at the 22nd NSJF Pulsar Sports Award.
At the award ceremony held at the Pokhara Convention Centre on Wednesday, Dipendra was named Men’s Player of the Year, while Erika won the Women’s Player of the Year title. While Dipendra won the award for the first time, Erika clinched the honour for the second consecutive year. Both received a Pulsar motorcycle.
Previously, only Sangina Baidya, Ganga Adhikari and Sabitra Bhandari had won the award twice. Erika has now become the fourth athlete to achieve the feat, and the only one to win it in consecutive years.
The People’s Choice Award, presented based on public voting, was won by volleyball player Himal Sunari. He secured the award by surpassing four other nominees and also received a Pulsar motorcycle.
Other nominees for the People’s Choice Award included cricketer Pooja Mahato, footballer Rekha Paudel, table tennis player Ivana Thapa, and wushu athlete Bijay Sinjali. Rekha Paudel finished second in the voting, followed by Pooja Mahato in third place, Bijay Sinjali in fourth, and Ivana Thapa in fifth.
Nepali women’s cricket team vice-captain Pooja Mahato received the Best Young Player award. Likewise, Tulsi Gurung, who has earned a 9th Dan in taekwondo, was honoured with the NSJF Special Award. She also received a Pulsar motorcycle.
Nepal’s men’s and women’s kho kho teams, who secured two historic silver medals at the inaugural Kho Kho World Cup, were awarded the Team of the Year.
Athlete Prabha Angdembe won the Best Para Athlete award, while para taekwondo coach Kabiraj Negi Lama received the Best Coach award. Lama was also presented with a Pulsar motorcycle.
Former athlete Khadga Ranabhat was honoured with the Lifetime Achievement Award.
In a surprise announcement at the end of the programme, Palesha Govardhan received the special ‘Trailblazer of the Year’ award.
The NSJF Sports Award were held outside Kathmandu for the first time.
“Organising the awards outside Kathmandu this time marks a new beginning. We will make the event even grander in the coming years,” said NSJF President Niranjan Adhikari in his closing remarks.
