Image Channel lifts the title of Media Cup 2013; NSJF announces nominees for Sports Award 2013

KATHMANDU: Image Channel has lifted the title of the Sixth Media Cup 2013 defeating defending champions Nepal Television by 6-0 in the final march held at Dasharath Stadium on Tuesday.

Sambhanda Pradhan and Madhav Bhandari netted two goals each while Pujan Shrestha and Sunil Tamrakar scored one goal each to ensure wide victory of the channel. With the win, Image also bagged a purse of Rs. 50,000 while Pradhan declared man of the match. Altogether 17 teams from different media houses participated in the knock-out football tournament.

Meanwhile, Nepal Sports Journalists Forum (NSJF) has announced the nominees of the four categories of Pulsar Sports Awards 2013. Organizing a press conference in the capital on Tuesday, NSJF announced the five nominees each in the categories including the beat player of the year (male, female and youth) and coach of the year.

The nominees for the best male players include cricketers Paras Khadka and Basanta Regmi, athlete Tilakram Tharu, footballer Bharat Khawas and Karate’s Sunil Lama while Karate’s Ganga Devi Adhikari, footballers Anu Lama and Jamuna Gurung, Wushu’s Jharana Gurung and swimmer Shreya Dhilar have been nominated as best female players.

Similarly, swimmer Sirish Gurung, Wushu’s Chahana Bamjan Lama, cricketer Akas Bista, footballer Niru Thapa and badminton’s Rantajit Tamang have been announced as nominees for best youth players. Likewise, cricket coach Pubudu Bathiya Dassanayake, Wushu’s Yuvaraj Gurung, Karate’s Akbar Shah, Swimming’s Wangden Lama and Athletics Nar Bahadur Shahi are nominated under best coaches of the year.

However, the forum has already announced the nominees of the Popular Player of the Year Award including footballer Sagar Thapa, swimmer Shreya Dhital, volleyball player Sipora Gurung, boxer Deepak Maharjan and cricketer Rahul BK.

Of the total eight different categories, the forum is to unveil the names for the para-athlete of the year, special award and lifetime achievement award during the function scheduled to be held at Nepal Pragya Pratisthan on July 2.

The best male, female and popular players will receive a motorcycle each while other winners will bag Rs. 50,000 each