KATHMANDU, Sept 10: Footballer Jumanu Rai and swimmer Karishma Karki won the top accolades at the Nepal Sports Journalists Forum (NSJF) Pulsar Player of the Year 2065 awards on Thursday. [break]
Volleyball’s Manju Gurung, athlete Keshari Chaudhary, cricketer Mehboob Alam and coach Sushil Narsingh Rana were also awarded for their performance while NSJF honored Parthasarathi Sen Gutpa with the Lifetime Achievement Award amidst a extravagant function in Kathmandu.
Jumanu, who is currently playing professional football in domestic league of Maldives, won the Male Player of the Year for his 10 goals in five weeks. Playing for the national team in the AFC Challenge Cup, he scored five international goals and five more for his Nepal Police Club (NPC) in the AFC President’s Cup.
“In my career of one-and-half decades, I have seen a few gifted players, and Jumanu is one of them,” national captain Rakesh Shrestha, who received the award in his behalf, said. “It’s not an easy feat to score so many goals against good teams in such a short period.”
Karishma won Female Player of the Year award for her 12 gold medals during the Fifth National Games. Coached by father Ishwar Karki, she dominated the pool during the Games and Galaxy Cup Swimming Championship during the year.
“This is for you dad,” Karishma dedicated her award to her father, who narrowly missed the Coach of the Year award. “You deserve this more than I do.”
“It does not matter you do not win here today,” she said in an emotional speech. “For me you are the best coach. I love you dad.” She did not forget to thank her family, her fans and people from her district who voted for her.
Also nominated for the Popular Player of the Year, Karishma received second-highest SMS votes. “For those who voted for me, I want to say that although I missed that award, I am always popular for you and I owe you big thanks.”
The much-publicized Popular Player of the Year award went to Manju Gurung. She received 57 per cent votes among 197,916 votes. Karishma was distant second with 22 per cent of votes.
“Thanks to all for voting me, campaigning for me, for all your help,” Manju said.
Multi-talented Keshari Chaudhary was declared the Youth Player of the Year. Last year, she took 10 wickets during Nepal’s victory in ACC U-19 Women’s. In the Fifth National Games, she won five events – high jump, long jump, triple jump, 4x100m and 4x400m. She also made national record in triple jump crossing 11.30m.
“I’m very happy,” she said. “I wish the entire player to play well and win such awards.”
Cricketer Mehboob Alam received the Special Award for his 10-wicket feat against Mozambique during the World Cricket League Division 5 in Jersey. He is the first bowler to take 10 wickets in an ICC sanctioned one-day cricket match.
“This is encouraging,” he said. “I will try to perform better.” Mehboob also requested government to provide jobs to the players so that they could continue playing for the nation.
Coach of the Year award went to Sushil Narsingh Rana who returned to active coaching career last year with Armed Police Force. Under his guidance, APF won 19 of 35 events in the Fifth National Games.
“I congratulate all nominees as they all equally contributed for the sports,” Rana said. “I like to remember German coach Gunter Lange. Without his guidance I would not have been here.”
NSJF honored Parthasarathi Sen Gupta, the weightlifting icon of the country, with the Lifetime Achievement Award. Gupta, 55, spent his golden years helping sports as a player, coach, official, referee, technical official and employee.
“I dedicate this award to all because I did nothing alone,” he said. “This is not my honor; this is players’ honor, coaches’ honor and sports’ honor.”
Remembering times when he grew frustrated when sports authority did not recognize his contributions, he said: “The fourth estate recognized me.”
Gupta won the Coach of the Year award when the award was first introduced 12 years ago. “This is my life’s most invaluable honor, I have no words to thank you all,” he added.
The annual sports award ceremony was also graced by performances of pop star Nima Rumba, and comedian Deepak Raj Giri. International players representing various sports danced and walked for a fashion show during the ceremony.
Fund raised for Manju
Nepal Sports Journalist Forum (NSJF), during the award distribution function screened a short documentary on Manju Tuladhar, former national taekwondo player who is suffering from kidney problem and in undergoing dialysis each week. According to medical reports, she needs to undergo kidney transplantation for recovery.
NSJF on the occasion appealed for financial support from sports lovers and collected more than Rs 100,000 for her treatment. NSJF has also opened a bank account at the Agriculture Development Bank, Tripureshwar branch, urging people to provide financial support for her treatment. The bank account number is 274610.
Parthasarathi Sen Gupta, the winner of the life-time achievement award and the best coach award winner Sushil Narsingh Rana provided Rs 5,000 each out of the Rs 15,000 cash prize that they received at the awards function.
Similarly, Nepal Wrestling Association President Yunis Ansari provided Rs 51,000, Three Star Club President Lalit Krishna Shrestha provided Rs 10,000, Bhimsen Rajbagh provided Rs 5,555 for her treatment.
(All photos by Dipesh Shrestha.)
Related story
Former national team duo Jumanu, Anu win Special Awards
