Baikuntha Manandhar honored

KATHMANDU, April 4: National icon and former marathoner Baikuntha Manandhar was honored with Gajaraj Memorial Inspirational Sports Personality award during the Nepal National and International Players Association's (NNIPA) annual sports award at the Theater Village in Lazimpat, Kathmandu on Friday.

NNIPA is an umbrella organization of Nepali players working for the cause of Nepali players during their hard times.

Related story

Tuladhar honored with Baikuntha Lakaul Award

Baikuntha, who won three consecutive gold medals in the South Asian Games, was awarded with the biggest award of Rs 30,000 as 19 high performing players from their respective sports were awarded with Rs 10,000 each.

"I am very humbled with the award and thankful to NNIPA. As players we give our best for country and honors like these gives us inspiration and zeal work harder and perform better," said Baikuntha.

All the winners were recommended by their respective sports associations, based on their international and national performance in the year 2070.

Sports associations which did not recommend their respective high-performing players were not eligible for the award.

Crickets, who have performed better than other players, were not awarded as Cricket Association of Nepal did not recommended any names, Deepak Bista, an Olympian and President of NNIPA had clarified during the press conference held in Kathmandu on Thursday.

Theater artistes of Mandala had performed a play with the theme on 'Life and struggling of Nepali players, during the award function.

Players were awarded as part of the plot of the play.

Speaker of parliament Subash Chandra Nembang, secretary of Ministry of Youths and Sports Dipendra Nath Sharma and Member secretary of National Sports Council Yubaraj Lama were among the dignitaries handing away the award.

Anil Gurung bagged best footballer award while Saraswoti Chaudhary took best performer in volleyball.

Amar Shrestha, Dipendra Airee, Bibhuti Karki, Nabita Shrestha and Gyanu Chunara won awards in handball, hockey, lawn tennis, table tennis and Taekwondo respectively.

Likewise, Sunita Bohara took award in Judo, Raju Rai in Gymnastics, Nawal Rawal in Kabbadi, Kamal Adhikari in weightlifting, Keshav Shrestha in chess, Ajay Pandit in cycling, Prem Prasad Pun in archery and Ratnajit Tamang in cycling.

Saraswoti Rana won in boxing as Anu Adhikari, Shreya KC and Dilmaya Karki were felicitated in karate, shooting and athletics respectively.

Ratna Bahadur Tamang, a security guard at the Dasharath Staduium for more than three decades, was honored with special award of Rs 10,000 for his service.