Bodybuilder Kamal Bhandari and karateka Bimala Nepali were named the best players of the third Pokhara Sports Award on Friday.

The Kaski coordination committee of the Nepal Sports Journalists Forum (NSJF) honoured the best player of the year male, female, youth and coach along with a lifetime achievement awards. Kamal, who finished sixth in the World Body Building Champion-ships, had also claimed a bronze in Asian Championships in South Korea. He got the better of cricketer Karan KC and archer Tilak Pun Magar. He was rewarded with a TVS Apache motorcycle.

Bimala was the gold winner of the National Shito-Ryu Karate Championships in Bhedetar. She also finished second in International Karate Championships in Dhangadhi. Kamala Pun of hockey and Keshari Ale Magar of archery were the other two nominees in the category. Kamala won a TVS Wego scooter.Cricketer Mekh Bahadur Sen was named the youth player of the year. Mekh was an important member of the Nepali U-16 team that claimed the ACC U-16 Eastern Region cricket tournament in Singapore. Bibek Adhikari of athletics and Buddhi Maya Magar of kabaddi were other nominees.

Professor Birendra Singh Gurung was honoured with the lifetime achievement award for his contribution to bring hockey, tennis and cricket in Kaski despite being an academician. Kamal’s coach Jeevan Ghimire was named the best coach of the year. Rijan Prajoo of cricket and Shiva Bahadur Gurung of karate were the other nominees in the category. Kaski Badmin-ton Association was named the best association.