National cricket team captain Paras Khadka, women´s football team skipper Jamuna Gurung, karateka Sunil Lama and wushu player Chahana Bomjan Lama were the sportspersons to receive the prestigious award carrying a purse of Rs 100,000 for their significant achievements in their respective sports. [break]
Nepal Volleyball Association (NVA) bagged the award for the best sports association of the country. NVA President Dan Bahadur Tamang received the award on behalf of NVA.
Except Paras Khadka, all the awarded athletes were present at the function. Khadka is currently in Sri Lanka with the national team to prepare for the ACC Emerging Teams Cup scheduled to begin from August 17 in Singapore. Paras´ father Mohan Khadka received the award on his behalf.
Khadka had led the national team to title victories in two international tournaments last year. Under his captaincy, Nepal had won the ICC World Cricket League Division 4 and shared the title of ACC Trophy Elite with host UAE. Khadka was adjudged the man-of-the-series in both the tournaments.
Meanwhile, 28-year-old Jamuna Gurung had helped the national women´s team to claim silver during the Second SAFF Women´s Football Tournament. Gurung had scored two hat-tricks and finished as the tournament´s top scorer. Nepal had also finished the 11th South Asian Games (SAG) in 2010 as runner-up under her captaincy.
Another 11th SAG medalist Sunil Lama had claimed two medals for Nepal in the international level last year. He had won a gold medal each at the 13th Asia Pacific Shito-ryu Karate Championship and an invitational tournament in Bangladesh.
Emerging star of Nepali wushu, Chahana Bomjan Lama, had clinched bronze medal during the 4th World Junior Wushu Championship last year.
Besides the athletes, other youths to win the awards were Jhamak Kumari Ghimire for her noteworthy contribution in the field of literature, Radha Paudel for her social service in the health sector, Ved Prakash Sapkota for agriculture, Sanjog Acharya for journalism and the National Youth Service Trust for its contribution in the field of literature and arts.
Speaking on the occasion, Chairman Regmi said that the award would inspire other youths as well.
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