Nepal National and International Players’ Association (NNIPA) on Monday announced athlete Hari Bahadur Rokaya as the winner of the Ideal Sportsperson of the year.

The 52-year-old Guinness Book of World Record holder Rokaya was one of the many recipients of the annual awards to be presented in Kathmandu on Tuesday. The Gajaraj Memorial Ideal Sportsperson Award carries a cash prize of Rs 25,000. Rokaya is recorded in the Guinness Books of World Records as the fastest high altitude marathon winner when he secured the 2000 Everest Marathon title. 

Rokaya set the record of 3:50:23 on his way to winning the third Everest Marathon title in 2000. Rokaya, who hails from Jumla, won the previous two editions in 1997 (4:15:42) and 1999 (3:56:10). The annual Everest Marathon starts from Gorak Sep (17,000 feet) and ends in Namche (11,300 feet).

The NNIPA has also decided to present altra-runner Mira Rai with the Special Award. “But Rai is currently out of the country, so we will present the award sometime later,” said NNIPA General Secretary Deepak Shrestha. NNIPA will also award players from 22 sports disciplines on Tuesday.

Among those players to win the NNIPA awards include Bikash Thapa (weightlifting) Nawayug Shrestha (football), Saraswoti Chaudhary (volleyball), Bir Bahadur Mahara (taekwondo), Saroj Yadav (kusti), Prem Prasad Pun (archery), Arhant Singh (squash), Saraswoti Rana (boxing), Nangsal Devi Tamang (badminton), Phupu Lhamu Khatri (judo), Sneha Rajya Laxmi Rana (shooting), Ajay Pandit (cycling), Roja KC (triathlon), Shanti Malla (kabaddi), Abhishek Bastola (lawn tennis), Kushma Ranamagar (hockey), Arpana Kumari Mahato (kho kho), Gaurika Singh (swimming), Nima Gharti Magar (wushu), Deep Saun (table tennis), Ranjana Rai (handball) and Hari Kumar Rimal (athletics).

The NNIPA announces the winners after recommendation from their respective sports associations. The best player in each discipline will walk away with Rs 10,000 each. According to the NNIPA President Deepak Bista, all 22 sports disciplines that Nepal participated in at the 12th South Asian Games last year in India were considered for the award.