Kathmandu, September 3
Boxer Chandra Bahadur Thapa and karateka Arika Gurung have been named the Best Male and Best Female Athletes, respectively at the Nepal Sports Journalists Forum (NSJF) Sports Awards.
Gurung made history by winning the Best Female Athlete award for a third consecutive year, becoming the first athlete to achieve the feat.
Volleyball player Mina Sunar won the People’s Choice Award after receiving 29.04 percent of the votes. She finished ahead of Rabindra Dhant, who received 24.53 percent, as well as Sanumaya Thing, Pooja Rana and Sher Malla.
Karate coach Kushal Shrestha was named Best Coach.
Shrestha coached Gurung to her historic medal at the Asian Games and has also played a role in helping athletes including Rehan Javed, Manisha Kumari Bohora, Sabina Shrestha and Pushpaka Lama win medals at international competitions.
Former national badminton player Kumar Mohan Bahadur Shahi received the Lifetime Achievement Award for his long-standing contribution to Nepali badminton.
Blind women’s cricket team player Susma Tamang was named Best Para Athlete.
Karateka Manisha Kumari Bohora won the Best Youth Athlete award. She won bronze at the 23rd Cadet, Junior and U-21 Karate Championship and gold medals at the 9th South Asian Karate Championship and the 56th National Karate Championship.
Meanwhile, Dhruva Bikram Malla, operator of Balaju Karate Dojo and a karate coach and referee, received the Special Award for his contribution to the sport.
