Nepal Sports Journalists Forum (NSJF) is organising the 17th edition of NSJF Pulsar Sports Award on Tuesday.

The event, which will also mark the silver jubilee of NSJF, is taking place at the Karate Hall in Satdobato, Lalitpur.

This year’s award function was delayed by nearly four months due to the Covid-19 pandemic.

The umbrella organisation of sports journalists, NSJF was established on 10 September, 1995. Although it started honouring athletes and sportspersons since its establishment year, the award ceremony was not regular until 2003.

The awards ceremony became an annual event, and the country’s most prestigious sports ceremony from 2003.

According to NSJF, they faced a tough time this year due to the coronavirus pandemic. "But we did not have other options than to hold the event as Nepal hosted the biggest sports event – the 13th South Asian Games—in the last Nepali calendar year," said Devendra Subedi, the president of NSJF. "It gives us great pleasure to declare that we have completed all the preparations for the event despite the challenges."

This year’s ceremony will be held “semi-virtually” and it will be telecast live on four channels – NTV Plus, Janata Televisions, Image Channel and Action Sports HD.

The function will also be streamed live on the Youtube channel and Facebook page of NSJF as well as other digital platforms.

The Sports Award has 10 award categories this year.

Players and coaches have been nominated in different categories on the basis of their performance at national and international sports meets throughout the past Nepali calendar year (2076 BS).

Swimmer Gaurika Singh, karateka Manday Kaji Shrestha, volleyball's Aruna Shahi, basketball's Sadina Shrestha and footballer Sabitra Bhandari have been nominated for the peoples' choice award.

The winner of the peoples' choice award will be decided through eSewa votes, Facebook likes and points allocated by NSJF members and chief coaches of sports associations.

NSJF have nominated five players each in the male, female, youth and coach of the year award categories and the winners will be announced at the ceremony.

There are no nominations in the para athlete, special, lifetime achievement and team of the year categories and the Asian Sports Journalists Award this time. The winners will be revealed directly during the award ceremony.

The winners of peoples' choice, male, female and coach will be rewarded with Pulsar motorbikes while the winners of other categories will be given Rs 50,000 each and gift hampers.