The Ministry of Youth and Sports feted nine sportspersons including six players, two coaches and a judge with national sports talent award on the ministry premises on Sunday.

The 13th South Asian Games (SAG) gold medalist Juni Rai of wushu, Pushpa Bhandari of athletics, Allen Shrestha of karate, Dipak Hamal and Sushmita Tamang of wushu and para table tennis player Keshab Thapa were awarded with national sports talent award. All six players were given a purse of Rs100,000 each along with certificates.

Taekwondo's Sangina Baidya and Norbu Lama were feted in the coach's category. The duo received Rs50,000 each. Taekwondo's Ashok Khadka was feted in the judge's category and bagged a purse of Rs100,000.

The ministry also feted 10 media persons for their contributions in sports in the country. Himesh Ratna Bajracharya of Kantipur, the sister publication of the Post, was honored with national sports journalism award. He received Rs50,000 and a letter of appreciation.

Apart from Bajracharya, the ministry feted seven sports journalists from the seven provinces and two others under ‘inclusive quota’ with sports journalism motivation award.

Kushal Timalsina of Kantipur was feted from Bagmati Province and Sanju Paudel of Lumbini Province of the same publication house was feted under the inclusive quota.

Namin Dhakal was rewarded from Province 1, Basanta Khatiwada from Province 2, Sonita Aryal from Gandaki Province, Dipak Neupane from Lumbini Province, Ramesh Kumar Pandey from Karnali Province and Binod Singh Bista from Sudurpaschim Province were rewarded with sports journalism motivation award. Bijay Nepali of Gandaki Province received the award under inclusive quota. Each of them were given Rs250,000 and a letter of appreciation.

Minister for Youth and Sports Maheshwar Gahatraj, Ministry of Youth and Sports secretary Dr Damodar Regmi, and National Sports Council vice president Shiva Koirala among others distributed the prizes.