National football team first choice goalie Anjila Tumbapo Subba, one of the five nominees of the annual Pulsar Sports Award set to take place on March 22, said that her ambition as a footballer was to win SAFF Women's Gold medal.

The sub-continental trophy has been elusive for Nepal as they have finished runners-up behind India in four of the five editions held so far. The only time Nepal failed to enter the final of the biennial tournament was during the 2016 edition in India where they crashed out from the semi-finals. Their opponents in the last four were India.

Women's football has been included in the South Asian Games (SAG) since 2010 and three editions have been possible since then. But in all three, Nepal were limited to the silver medal losing to India in the finals.

"My career as a footballer will not be fulfilled until we defeat India and lift the SAFF Championship trophy," said the 25-year-old who hails from Ilam.

Along with Tumbapo Subba, shuttler Prince Dahal, cricketer Kushal Bhurtel, middle distance runner Santoshi Shrestha, and table tennis star Elina Maharjan are the five nominees for the prestigious annual award organised by Nepal Sports Journalists Forum. The winner among them will be awarded with a two wheeler.

The winners among them will be picked on the basis of eSewa votes, Facebook likes in the official page of the Sports Award and points allocated by head coaches of 27 sports associations affiliated with the Nepal Olympic Committee and members of NSJF. The eSewa votes will have 50 percent weightage, Facebook likes 25 percent and the points allocated by coaches and NSJF members will have 12.5 percent weightage each.

Tumbapo Subba is also an influential member of the Nepal APF Club that claimed the women's league trophy last year. She conceded just one goal in 12 league games. She also played in Pakistan's Women's Championship from Masha United, where she captained the team. She is also set to feature in a biopic based on her life and career as a footballer. Subba marked her debut for the national team during 2016 South Asian Games in India and has been a key player of the national side ever since.

Tumbapo Subba, who started playing football when she was 12, says her mother Radhika Lama has a key role in her footballing career.

“My mother is extremely happy with my nomination and that's the greatest joy for me,” she said. “My mother was always supportive and inspired me to play while I was a child.”

The 18th edition of the Sports Award ceremony to take place at Nepal Academy Hall will honour sportspersons in eight different categories.

NSJF, Plaza Hotel Group ink co-sponsorship deal

Nepal Sports Journalist Forum (NSJF) has continued its partnership with Plaza Hotel Group for this year’s NSJF Pulsar Sports Award.

NSJF President Durga Nath Subedi and Plaza Managing Director Yubaraj Shrestha signed a co-sponsorship deal amid a function in Kathmandu on Wednesday.

As per the agreement, Plaza Hotel will arrange accommodations for the guests arriving for the awards function. The hotel will also manage venues for the programmes to be organised by the NSJF.

The sports award, scheduled for March 30, is honouring sportspersons in eight different categories based on their contributions in the last decade.

Shrestha said he was happy to keep up the partnership with NSJF and added that he would “continue supporting sports in the coming days as well”. Subedi expressed his gratitude towards Shrestha.

NSJF has already unveiled the nominees for the Peoples’ Choice Award.

Teen badminton sensation and top seed in junior world ranking Prince Dahal, cricketer Kushal Bhurtel, middle distance runner Santoshi Shrestha, women’s national football team goalkeeper Anjila Tumbapo Subba and table tennis player Elina Maharjan have been nominated for the People’s Choice category. The winners of other disciplines will be announced in the award ceremony.