Dhaka, February 26: Bangladesh National women’s team forward Krishna Rani Sarkar has been named 'Borsho-shera Nari Krirabid' (Female Athlete of the Year) of 2016 by Daily Prothom Alo.

She was given the award at the 'Rupchanda-Prothom Alo Sports Award Programme 2016' on Sunday evening.

In an immediate reaction of getting the award, Krishna said, "It feels great. I'm feeling really happy. I want to thank Prothom Alo for choosing me as the female player of the year and giving me the award among so many great people. I'm spell-bound."

It is Krishna Rani Sarkar's first national award at any level. Asked whether she was expecting such an award or not, the U16 skipper said, "I've always dreamed of achieving great things with football and to win awards. But I never thought it would come so early. I'm speechless."

Stating that this award will inspire her to do well in the future, Krishna said, "I feel more inspired to do well in the future and to win things both individually and with my team. And hopefully this award will inspire my teammates as well."

The upcoming star of Bangladesh women’s football, also a star forward of the national U16 girls’ team was given the award on Sunday.

In 2016, the Tangail-born girl captained her U16 side to reach the final round of AFC U-16 women’s tournament, for only the second time in Bangladesh’s football history.

In the qualifying round, Bangladesh beat teams like Iran, Singapore, Kyrgyzstan, Chinese Taipei and UAE to reach the top eight teams of Asia.

Krishna scored 8 goals in 5 matches in the qualifying round.

Aside from her leadership qualities, Krishna possesses versatility and a voracious appetite to find the opponents’ net.

Already a regular in the national side, Krishna showed glimpses of her skills and abilities during the SAFF Women’s Championship 2016 in Shiliguri, India where Bangladesh reached the finals for the first time.

She vindicated the selectors with her performance at the tournament in which Bangladesh ended up as runners-up.

More recently, in end January, she led the U16 side in the J-Green Sakai Lady’s Festival 2017 in Japan’s Osaka with great potency.

The tournament, or festival as it was called, wasn't really structured with an emphasis on ascertaining the position of each participating teams. Every team played six games over two exciting football days.

Among those 6 matches, Krishna’s side won 3, drew 2 and lost only 1 even after facing comparatively better opponents in Japanese Football Association (JFA) full time academies and Japanese professional clubs.

The team also beat hosts Sakai Academy 2-1, a team that had beaten the Thai U16 with an embarrassing 10-0 score line, in a friendly match.

Skipper Krishna Rani again proved her worth displaying stellar performances in almost every match.

Then in the latest development tournament of the women’s team in Singapore (February 15-19), Krishna’s performance was lauded even though the team lost both the matches to Singapore and then to Malaysia.

A regular member of the BFF’s elite women’s camp, Krishna Rani Sarkar is already a glittering star in Bangladesh’s football horizon.

With the all the talent she possesses, the prodigy from Tangail is sure to bring more glory for herself and for the nation.