Best athletes feted at 19th NNIPA Sports Award

By A Staff Reporter,Kathmandu, Jan.5: The Nepal National and International Players Association (NNIPA) feted over two dozen athletes at its 19th Sports Award in Manamaiju, Kathmandu, on Saturday. Wushu’s Bijay Sinjali and karate’s Arika Gurung were awarded the best player of 2080 in the male and female categories respectively. 

Manmati Bist and Arika Gurung were the recipients of the best athletes awards in kabaddi and karate respectively.

According to the NNIPA, the athletes who performed outstandingly in their respective sports in the Nepali Year 2080 B.S. were honoured with the best player awards.

The organisers also informed that the best players were selected based on the performance focusing on the 19th Asian Games. The best athletes received a trophy as well as cash.

The NNIPA had called athletes for the honour in the alphabetical order of their respective sports. Santoshi Shrestha of athletics was the first to receive the award.

Similarly, the NNIPA selected Prince Dahal, Bijay Burja, Chandra Bahadur Thapa and Ganesh Gurung as the best athletes in badminton, basketball, boxing and canoeing respectively.

Likewise, Kushal Malla, Preeti Rai and Niruta Thagunna were the best athletes in the three most popular sports of Nepal – cricket, football and volleyball respectively.

The NNIPA also honoured Usha Khanal, Shyam Maharjan, Sahas Bhandari, Rajendra Gajurel, Sadbhav Acharya, Sangita Chaudhary and Bikash BK as the best athletes in cycling, dance sports, esports, fencing, golf, handball and judo respectively.

Meanwhile, regarding rugby, shooting, squash, swimming, table tennis, taekwondo, tennis and triathlon, the best athletes were Pujan Phewali, Bipesh Khadka, Swasthani Shrestha, Alexander Shah, Evana Thapa, Ashmin Raut, Nishan Shrestha and Shrebi Maharjan.