Pokhara / Cricketer Dipendra Singh Airee and karate athlete Erika Gurung were named Male and Female Player of the Year at the 22nd NSJF Pulsar Sports Awards, held in Pokhara for the first time on Saturday.
Organised by the Nepal Sports Journalists Forum (NSJF), the prestigious annual ceremony took place at the National Assembly Hall, recognising Nepal’s outstanding sporting achievements of 2025 across 11 categories.
Airee received the Male Player of the Year award along with a Pulsar NS 200 ABS motorcycle, presented by Abhimanyu Golchha, Director of Golchha Group. Erika Gurung was honoured with the Female Player of the Year title for her consistent performance in karate at national and international competitions.
Bajaj, the title sponsor of the awards, reaffirmed its commitment to the promotion and development of Nepali sports through continued support for athletes, events, and grassroots initiatives.
Veteran athlete Khadga Bahadur Ranabhat was presented with the Lifetime Achievement Award for his long-standing contribution to Nepali sports, while senior coach Tulsi Kumar Gurung received a Special Award for his role in developing athletic talent.
Other major award winners included Palesha Goverdhan (Trailblazer of the Year), Kabiraj Negi (Coach of the Year), Pooja Mahato (Young Player of the Year), and Himal Sunari (People’s Choice Award). The Kho-Kho men’s and women’s teams were named Team of the Year, while Rana Hasan received the Asian Sports Journalist Award.
The event was attended by the Federal Minister for Youth and Sports, officials from the National Sports Council, local government representatives, athletes, coaches, journalists and sports enthusiasts.
Now in its 22nd edition, the NSJF Pulsar Sports Awards remains Nepal’s most prestigious sports recognition programme, with organisers reiterating their commitment to a transparent and merit-based selection process.