National team striker Nawayug Shrestha and teenaged cricketer Sandeep Lamichhane were among 10 sportsperson set to receive National Sports Talent Award on August 12.

Chuna Mani Paudel, the joint secretary at the Youth and Sports ministry, revealed the government’s decision on Sunday during a farewell of the Nepali cricket team, who are scheduled to leave for London on Monday for a friendly match against Marylebone Cricket Club at the Lord’s. The award carries Rs 100,000 cash reward.

Shrestha was instrumental in helping Nepal clinch the 12th South Asian gold medal in men’s football, the first silverware in 23 years. He was also pivotal in Nepali team’s triumph in the Bangabandhu Gold Cup held in Bangladesh just before the SA Games. The 16-year-old spinner Lamichhane has been a shining star for the Nepali cricket team in recent times. He shone in the ICC U-19 World Cup and ICC World Cricket League Championship matches against Namibia held on April 16 and 18 in Kathmandu.

Lamichhane was key member of Nepali team that qualified for the U-19 World Cup quarter-finals, a tournament where he ended up as a second leading wicket-taker with 14. He had also taken a hat-trick, Nepal’s first at that level and fifth in U-19 World Cup history, against Ireland in a five-wicket haul.

The 12th SAG gold medallists wushuka Nima Gharti Magar and judoka Phupu Lhamu Khatri will also receive the award. Among the other recipients include swimmer Gaurika Singh, athlete Bipana Pariyar, taekwondoka Nisha Rawal, para-athlete coach Kumar Poudel and Kabadi/kho kho coach Ram Narayan Roy. Nepal Traithlon Association will be the another recipient of the award.