Six sportspersons including five players and a coach were honoured with the Universal United Nepalese Taekwondo Federation Award at the Nuwakot Taekwondo covered hall on Saturday.

Taekwondo players Ayasha Shakya, Bhupen Shrestha, Kajal Shrestha and Sajeev Kumar Ojha, swimmer Gaurika Singh and taekwondo coach Norbu Lama received the award. Singh, who lives in London with her family, did not attend the function.

The five players were given Rs 30,000 each while coach Lama received Rs 20,000 along with a letter of appreciation.

Secretary at the Ministry of Youth and Sports Ram Prasad Thapaliya among others distributed the awards.

Meanwhile, all taekwondo medalists of the 13th South Asian Games (SAG) held in 2019 were also honoured at the programme. Taekwondo's 18 players—who had claimed 12 gold medals in total—were handed a purse of Rs 25,000 each. The six silver medalists were handed Rs 15,000 each and 11 bronze medal winners —17 players—got Rs 10,000 each. Seven taekwondo coaches and two managers were given Rs 5,000 apiece.

The 13th SAG medal winners who hail from Nuwakot district were also felicitated on the occasion. Ten players from the district had won medals in the 13th SAG.

The gold medal winners karateka Anu Adhikari, cyclist Laxmi Magar and Buddi Bahadur Tamang and footballer Avishek Rijal were given the purse of Rs 25,000 each. Silver medalists taekwondo's Krishna Bahadur Tamang, wushu's Meen Glan, fencer Anju Tamang, judoka Sanjeet Dangol, lifter Ashmita Rai and taekwondo's Krishna Bahadur Tamang got Rs 15,000 each.

The SAG bronze medalists taekwondo's Rejin Rimal, judoka Sunil Nagarkoti and karateka Rajib Pudasaini received Rs 10,000 each. According to the federation, a total amount of Rs 1 million was distributed in cash prizes.

Meanwhile, 10 individuals including former Nepal Sports Journalists Forum president Niranjan Rajbanshi were recognised for their special contributions to the Nepali sports.