Football dominates Pulsar Sports Award 2072

The 12th edition of Pulsar Sports Award organised by the Nepal Sports Journalists Forum (NSJF) at the Nepal Academy Hall in Kathmandu on Thursday.

Footballer Nawayug Shrestha and judoka Phupu Lhamu Khatri on Thursday won the one of the prestigious award of the Pulsar Sports Award 2072, which saw the dominance of football as it claimed altogether five awards during the ceremony mong the accumulated nine awards.

Nawayug Shrestha a rising superstar of Nepali football, won the male player of the year award.

National football team’s goalkeeper Bikesh Kuthu, weightlifter Bikash Thapa, wushu player Rajesh Chaudhary and taekwondo player Bir Bahadur Mahara were nominees for the male player of the year award.

Nepal National Football team’s striker Nawayug was a key player when Nepal won Bangabandhu Gold Cup in Bangladesh and men’s football in South Asian Games in India. Nawayug, who scored his international hat-trick against the Maldives, was the best player and highest scorer (four goals) in Bangabandhu Gold Cup.

Nawayug, who scored highest seven goals with two hat-tricks in the 12th SAG, had helped Nepal win the SAG football trophy after 23 years.

Nawayug was the highest scorer in National League with 14 goals when his club Tribhuvan Army Club finished runner-up.

Nawayug Shrestha said “Such achievements help us to be more dedicated to whatever we are doing and encourage players like us to perform even better in coming days,” .

While, Judo player Phupu Lama Khatri bags the Female Player of the Year Award. Khatri had won the gold medal for the country at the 12th SAG held in India.

Wushu player Nima Gharti Magar, swimmer Gaurika Singh, triathlon’s Roja KC and taekwondo player Rejina KC were other nominees for the female player of the year award.

Phupu ended Nepali judo’s 21 years wait for gold in the SAG when she won the medal in India.

She also became Nepal’s first female judo player to win gold in the sub-continental sports extravaganza. Phupu won five international medals throughout the year.

Similarly, footballer Anjan Bista won youth player of the year award. Anjan left behind wushu player Nima Gharti Magar, swimmer Gaurika Singh, judoka Manita Shrestha Pradhan and cricketer Sandeep Lamichhane.

Anjan played key role when Nepal won SAFF U-19, Bangabandhu Gold Cup and 12th South Asian Games football trophies.

In the final of Bangabandhu Gold Cup, Anjan scored a goal and assisted on two occasions against Bahrain U-23. He also scored two goals in the SAG. Similarly, Anjan netted three goals in the SAFF U-19 and scored two goals for APF that finished fifth in the National League.

Anjan Bista said “The award will definitely encourage other youths to be involved in the game and will also encourage me to do even better. This will also help in the development of the game in the country,” .

Football coach Bal Gopal Maharjan won the coach of the year award where another football coach Raju Kaji Shakya, wushu coach Prakash Maharjan, judo coach Dal Bahadur Gurung and cricket coach Jagat Tamata had been nominated for the category.

Bal Gopal guided Nepal to the title of Bangabandhu Gold Cup and SAFF U-19 Championship. Nepali national football team won football gold after 23 years while bagging the Bangabandhu Cup.

Bal Gopal, who was the coach of Nepal for the AFC U-19 Championship Qualifier, is currently the head coach of Bangladesh’s first division club Brothers Union.

Nepali national football team has been awarded the Team of the Year. Nepali national football team receive the honour from Hotelier Shashi Ghale.

Late Lalit Krishna Shrestha was rewarded for his contribution to the Nepali football with the Special Award. His wife Nilu Shrestha accepted the posthumous accolade.

Ex-footballer and referee, who has officiated in international games, Shree Ram Ranjitkar was honoured with the Lifetime Achievement Award for his relentless contribution to the game in Nepal.

Table tennis player Nabita Shrestha bagged the people’s choice award decided through SMS votes and Facebook likes.

Nabita received 150,511 votes as her closest competitor volleyball player Pratibha Mali got 116,956 votes.

Footballer Nawayug Shrestha, weightlifter Tara Devi Pun and cricketer Sandeep Lamichhane were other nominees.

Five-time national champion Nabita won bronze medal in women’s doubles event in the 12th South Asian Games held in India. Elina Maharjan was her pair in the event. She also defeated players from Estonia and Pakistan during World Team Table Tennis Championship. She made it to the knockout stage in the 28th Summer Universiade beating opponents of Algeria and Sierra Leone.

Nabita, who leapfrogged to 429th positions in world ranking, is the current national champion.

“Knowing that table tennis has also been nominated made me feel proud. The achievement also showed that table tennis is also played in Nepal. It will motivate other players too,” said Nabita.

Sita Bhandari, who lost her right hand in a fire at the age of six, won the Para-Athlete of the Year Award.

Sita had won bronze medal in para taekwondo during the IWAS World Games in 2015. The black belt second dan player had also secured bronze in the Second Asian Para Taekwondo Open Championship in Manila four months earlier.

Best Male, Best Female and People’s Choice title winners received Pulsar motorcycle each, and the winners of the remaining five categories got Rs 50,000 each and gift hampers.

“We are done with the preparations and invite the whole sports fraternity to join us in our efforts of honouring the heroes of the country,” said NSFJ Secretary Raju Tamang in a press conference on Wednesday.

Hansraj Hulaschand & Company Pvt Ltd has inked a deal with NSJF to be the main sponsor of the event for next five years.