Sunar left behind karateka Man Bahadur Dangi (Dang), cricketer Mahesh Chhetri (Banke), ITF player Bharat BK (Banke) and boxer Kalu Rawal (Jumla) to win the Player of the Year (Male) award. National Sports Council Member Secretary Yuvaraj Lama handed over the award to Sunar during the awards ceremony held in Nepalgunj on Sunday. Sunar had won gold medal in the South Asian Cadet Judo Championship held in Bangladesh last year. [break]
Likewise, Thapa beat off competition from handball players Deva Kumari Oli (Dang) and Kalpana Chaudhary (Dang), ITF player Hima Khadka (Banke) and judoka Deepa Gurung (Banke) to win the Player of the Year (Female) award. Thapa was a key member of the Nepali women´s cricket team that finished third in the ACC Women´s Championship.
Meanwhile, judo coach Bijay Gurung won the Best Coach of the Year award. Cricket coach Jamil Ansari, ITF coach Pappu Kewat, handball coach Tek Bahadur BK and football coach Yuvaraj Shahi were the other nominees for the award.
Akash Bista, a member of the Nepali U-16 national cricket team, bagged the Player of the Year (Youth) award. He finished ahead of judoka Rekha Sunar, shuttler Riyaj Ansari, footballer Bhadra Kala BK and handball player Bhesh Kumari Chaudhary.
During the awards ceremony organized by Nepal Sports Journalists Forum (NSJF) Banke coordination committee, former president of Nepal Weightlifting Association Ratan Kumar Tandon was honored with the Lifetime Achievement award.
Likewise, Jumla District Football Association President Bharat Budthapa received the Encouragement Award for his crucial role in institutionalizing and running football activities in the remote district of Karnali zone.
Former captain of the national cricket team LB Chhetri was honored with the Special Award for introducing women´s cricket in the country, especially in Nepalgunj.
Meanwhile, cricketer Chandra Sawad bagged the Far-western Special Award, an award dedicated to the athletes of Far-western Region.
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