Pokhara, 31 July, The Nepal Sports Journalists Forum (NSJF) is set to host the 22nd edition of the NSJF Bajaj Pulsar Sports Award–2081 in Pokhara for the very first time. With Pokhara Metropolitan City as the main promoter, this prestigious event will take place on Bhadra 29 (September 14) in Nepal’s tourism capital, a significant departure from its previous 21 editions, all of which were held in Kathmandu.
Niranjan Adhikari, President of the NSJF, announced that the decision to move the event outside Kathmandu for the first time was made with the special cooperation of Pokhara Metropolitan City, recognizing Pokhara’s growing reputation as a city of events. “As we aim to expand the scale and scope of the awards, we chose Pokhara from among several cities,” Adhikari stated, adding, “The cordiality extended by the Metropolitan City further validated our choice to bring the awards to Pokhara.” He expressed confidence that hosting the awards in Pokhara would significantly contribute to the “Pokhara Visit Year 2025” campaign, which the Metropolitan City is actively promoting.
Pokhara Mayor Dhanraj Acharya highlighted sports as a crucial aspect of tourism, emphasizing its potential for promoting tourism. He mentioned that the Metropolitan City has included the promotion of the Sports Award in its annual development program. Mayor Acharya believes that organizing the Sports Award in Pokhara during the “Pokhara Visit Year 2025” is a crucial opportunity for the city, as it will significantly boost Pokhara’s promotion in both national and international markets. He further elaborated that the Metropolitan City is actively coordinating and collaborating on strengthening existing infrastructure and constructing new facilities to develop Pokhara into a sports hub. Mayor Acharya stressed the importance of regular programs of this nature to develop Pokhara as a tourism destination in all aspects, noting that Pokhara is a city where sports can be played in all seasons, boasting infrastructure for various disciplines.
Anjan Khadka, General Secretary of the NSJF, provided details about the upcoming award ceremony, which will take place at the Pokhara Event Center on Bhadra 29. He confirmed that athletes and sports personalities will be honored in ten categories, mirroring previous editions. These categories include Best Male Player of the Year, Best Female Player of the Year, Best Young Player of the Year, Best Coach of the Year, People’s Choice Award, Para-Athletics Honor, Team of the Year, Special Award, Lifetime Achievement Award, and Asian Sports Journalism Award. Winners in the Best Male, Female, Young Player, Coach, and People’s Choice categories will each receive a Bajaj Pulsar motorcycle, while winners in other categories will be awarded NPR 100,000 in cash. Khadka revealed that the nomination for the People’s Choice Award, featuring five outstanding players selected based on public votes, would be announced in the coming days. Similarly, nominations for the Best Male, Female, Young Player, and Coach categories will also be revealed, each featuring five nominees. He clarified that the winners from these nominated categories would be announced on the day of the award ceremony itself. For the Lifetime Achievement, Special, Team of the Year, and Asian Journalist categories, winners will be directly selected and announced during the event.
