By Sachit Subba • Off-Field • Apr 03, 2026 15:14 PM • 104 views
BANEPA – At the historic Chandeshwari Temple, the Nepal National and International Players Association (NNIPA) recognised Arika Gurung and Santoo Shrestha as Best Players of the Year at the 20th NNIPA Sports Awards.
The Historic Double
Santoo Shrestha became the first Nepali table tennis player to qualify for the Olympics through the South Asian qualifiers, earning a place at the Paris Olympics. His achievements earned him selection as Best Player and a 100,000 NPR prize.
Arika Gurung earned a silver medal at the World Karate 1 Youth League and a gold at the Australian Open, leading her to win the Best Player award for the second consecutive year. Her consistent performance sets a high standard in Nepali martial arts.
Rising Stars and Martial Prowess
The “Talented Player” categories highlighted Nepal’s strength in combat sports.
- Abhishek Baral (Taekwondo): Won silver at the 6th Kasad Asian Taekwondo Championship and gold in the Under-80kg category.
- Swastika Tiruwa (Boxing): Proved her mettle by clinching gold at the ISF Gymnasiade Summer Games, adding to an impressive resume that includes aSwastika Tiruwa (Boxing): Won gold at the ISF Gymnasiade Summer Games and previously earned bronze at the 2021 Asian Junior Boxing Championships.tition between departmental giants and independent athletes. Nowhere was this more evident than in Athletics, where Santoshi Shrestha was named the best in her field. Shrestha continues to lead the charge for civilian runners, often serving as the lone challenger to the Nepal Army's military-backed dominance. Her recognition underscores a growing shift where grit and independent coaching are beginning to level the playing field against institutional power.
Para-Athletics Milestone
The most moving moment of the night belonged to Prabha Angdambe. Less than a year after transitioning from able-bodied athletics to para-sports following a 1500m university race, Angdambe surged to international fame. She jumped 3.96 meters in the T-47 long jump at the New Delhi qualifiers to secure a silver medal. It remains the most significant achievement in the history of Nepali para-athletics.
Honouring the Veterans
The NNIPA also honoured individuals who have contributed significantly to the development of Nepali sports. Gajraj Joshi Ideal Sports Personality: Awarded to veteran volleyball coach Kumar Rai for his lifelong dedication to the court.
NNIPA Sports Journalism Award: Given to senior photojournalist Udipt Singh Chhetri, whose lens has captured two decades of Nepal’s sporting triumphs and heartbreaks.
This year’s ceremony also brought new milestones: for the first time, the event was hosted outside Kathmandu Valley, in Banepa. While 26 disciplines were represented, the absence of Shooting highlighted ongoing administrative challenges in some federations.
The night belonged to the athletes. They came. The evening celebrated the athletes' achievements.
