Journo Pandey felicitated

KATHMANDU, Jan 5: Four sports journalists, including Binod Pandey of Nagarik Daily, sister publication of Republica, were felicitated by South Asian Sports Journalist Association of Nepal (SASJAN) on Saturday with the Ishwarman Singh Best Sports Journalism Award.



The other journalists to be felicitated on the occasion were Roshan Raut, Rajendra Chitrakar and Manoj Ghimire. Late Singh was the founder president of SASJAN. [break]



Pandey, working as a sports journalist for more than one-and-a-half decades, was awarded for his special contribution to Nepali sports.



Chitrakar has been actively involved in sports photo journalism for the last two decades while Raut and Ghimire have been associated with sports journalism for nearly two decades. Ghimire´s award was sponsored by Nepal Chess Association for his contribution toward the development of chess in Nepal.



Raut and Chitrakar were given Rs 25,000 each while Pandey and Ghimire received Rs 5,000 each.





(L-R) Rajendra Chitrakar, Journalists Binod Paney and Roshan Raut (Photo: Bijay Gajmer)



Meanwhile, Bimala Singh, wife of late journalist Singh, announced to set up a revolving fund of Rs 100,000 for the award.



Minister for Physical Planning and Works Hridayesh Tripathi, among others, distributed the prizes.



NSC boycotts event



Pitambar Timilsina, vice-president of National Sports Council (NSC), who arrived at the awards ceremony as guest boycotted the event after learning that Dhruba Badhdur Pradhan, the president of internationally recognized Nepal Olympic Committee (NOC), was one of the guests.



NSC has severed its ties with Pradhan-led NOC saying the committee lacks legitimacy. The Supreme Court has also declared the Pradhan-led committee as illegal.



"As NSC and Supreme Court have refused to recognize the Pradhan-led NOC how could I share the same floor with Pradhan in a formal event," Timilsina said.



NSC had sponsored Rs 30,000 for felicitating the journalists.



Speaking on the occasion, NOC President Pradhan said the Olympic committees of South Asian countries have requested Nepal to host the upcoming South Asian Games (SAG).



"As the International Olympic Committee (IOC) has suspended the Olympic Committee of India (OCI), India could not host any games under the umbrella of IOC. Thus, NOC has got request from all the South Asian countries to host the upcoming SAG," said Pradhan. "I request Minister Tripathi to take the matter seriously. If the government wants Nepal to host the SAG we should immediately begin preparations."

Related story

Nagarik journo Dahal felicitated with ‘Rotary Journo’ award