The Nepal Olympic Committee has awarded Sudha Sen Malla and Julum Puri Giri cash prizes for their work in taekwondo ©Nepal Olympic Committee

The Nepal Olympic Committee's (NOC) Women and Sports Commission has honoured Sudha Sen Malla and Julum Puri Giri with cash rewards for their achievements in taekwondo to mark the 112th International Women’s Day.

Malla, handed a technical award, and Giri, the recipient of the administration award, were presented with 25,000NPR (£150/€190/$200) with a letter of appreciation by NOC President Jeevan Ram Shrestha as a part of its felicitation programme.

Giri was amongst some of the first Nepalese taekwondo practitioners when the sport started in the county in 1983 and she later became a black belt athlete.

Over the course of the last three decades, she has been managing responsibilities as an employee of the Nepali Government body, the National Sports Council (NSC), which the NOC is a member of.

A ceremony to honour the work of Sudha Sen Malla and Julum Puri Giri was held to mark International Women's Day ©Nepal Olympic Committee
A ceremony to honour the work of Sudha Sen Malla and Julum Puri Giri was held to mark International Women's Day ©Nepal Olympic Committee

Shrestha stressed the importance of women’s participation in Nepali sport and promised the NOC is handing priority to ensuring women has a strong sporting presence.

He added that Malla and Giri have made an unparalleled contribution to Nepali sports.

The programme was overseen by Jyoti Rana, chairperson of the commission and vice-president of the NOC.