Star footballer Hamza Choudhury dominated the Cool-BSPA Sports Award 2025 by winning three major honours, including the prestigious Sportsperson of the Year award, reports BSS.
The grand award ceremony, organised by the Bangladesh Sports Press Association (BSPA), was held on Friday at the city's local hotel.
Hamza outperformmed women's footballer Rituporna Chakma and hockey player Amirul Islam to win the highest honour of Sportsperson of the Year 2025.
He also secured the Popular Choice Award through fan voting and received the Footballer of the Year award in recognition of his outstanding contribution to football during 2025, completing a memorable treble at the BSPA Awards.
In a video message after receiving the awards, Hamza expressed pride in earning the honours and described the Cool-BSPA Award as one of the country's most prestigious sporting recognitions. He thanked his family, coaches, teammates, friends and supporters for standing beside him and the national football team throughout the year.
The ceremony was chaired by BSPA president Rejwan Uz Zaman Rajib.
State Minister for youth and Sports Aminul Haque attended as the chief guest and handed over awards to the winners'.
Speaking at the event, Aminul Haque said the BSPA Sports Award had been organized for many years and recalled attending the program earlier as a footballer before returning this time as sports minister. He described the award ceremony as an important achievement for Bangladesh's sporting arena.
Malik Mohammad Sayeed, chief executive officer of Square Toiletries Limited, joined the programme as guest of honour. The company's popular brand "Cool" sponsored the prestigious event for the eleventh consecutive year.
BSPA president Rejwan Uz Zaman Rajib said sports journalism in Bangladesh had reached international standards but still had room for further improvement. He also announced BSPA's plan to establish a Sports Journalist Institute and sought support from all concerned.
Founded in 1964, BSPA introduced the country's first sports awards and this year honoured fifteen current and former athletes, organizers and organizations across sixteen categories.
Full winners' list of Kool-BSPA Sports Award 2025:
1. Sportsperson of the Year: Hamza Choudhury (Football)
2. Popular Choice Award: Hamza Choudhury (Football)
3. Footballer of the Year: Hamza Choudhury and Ritu Porna Chakma
4. Cricketer of the Year: Rishad Hossain
5. Hockey Player of the Year: Amirul Islam
6. Archer of the Year: Abdur Rahman Alif
7. Table Tennis Player of the Year: Khoi Khoi Sai Marma
8. Badminton Player of the Year: Al-Amin Jumar
9. Emerging Athlete: Ripon Mondol (Cricket)
10. Coach of the Year: Peter Butler (Women's Football)
11. Best Umpire: Selim Lucky (Hockey)
12. Best Organiser: Kazi Rajib Uddin Ahmed Chapal (Archery)
13. Grassroots Sports Personality: Alamgir Kabir (Cricket Coach)
14. Special Recognition Award: Shahnaz Parvin Maleka (Kabaddi Coach)
15. Best Sponsor: Prime Bank PLC
16. Active Federation: Bangladesh Kabaddi Federation
Bd-pratidin English/TR
