Iskcon Gyawali wins Australia Day sporting award after incredible 2024

Whether it’s futsal, football, cricket, basketball or chess, Iskcon Gyawali loves the thrill of competition. The teen sensation has represent Queensland in multiple sports and has dreams of following in the footsteps of an Australian sporting legend. Details here.

Toowoomba Junior Sports Award recipient Iskcon Gyawali at the Toowoomba Australia Day celebrations at Picnic Point, Sunday, January 26, 2025. Picture: Kevin Farmer

Dominating one sport is not enough for Toowoomba teenage sporting sensation Iskcon Gyawali.

Instead, he has made his mark in several sports, starring as a footballer, futsal player, cricketer, basketballer and Toowoomba Grammar chess star.

His outstanding year across several different codes was recognised last week when he won the Toowoomba Junior Sports award at the Australia Day celebrations.

“It was pretty special, I was pretty honoured to receive that award on Australia Day, especially from the mayor,” he said.

Between juggling school and various sporting commitments, Gyawali, 14, barely has a moment when he is not in the thick of the action.

However, the thrill of the endless pursuit of challenge is something he loves.

At the age where most junior athletes would start choosing one sport to focus on and give themselves more time for schoolwork, Gyawali’s drive and passion for multiple codes is as strong as ever.

And his dedication has paid dividends with Queensland selection in football and futsal, Darling Downs representative honours in cricket, competing at states in chess and in the Champion Basketball School of Queensland competition on the Gold Coast.

“I basically have trainings every single day and it’s pretty busy but at the same time I enjoy it,” Gyawali said.

“I do make sure that I have some down time so I don’t get too overwhelmed and too stressed by doing stuff I enjoy.

Toowoomba Grammar School student Iskcon Gyawali. Picture: Supplied.

“Even playing chess is like a downtime for me or hanging out with some mates and stuff like that.”

With a dream reminiscent of Australian sports legend Ellyse Perry, Gyawali has focused heavily on his football and cricketing pursuits.

“I think the main sports for me are football and cricket,” he said.

“For football and cricket, I have always wanted to represent my country and play for Australia, those are the main goals for me.”

While he had a strong 2024 in cricket, starring for various Darling Downs sides, including the Darling Dingoes Premier League team, it is football where he has caught international attention.

“I was lucky enough to get named as a Queensland shadow and I got a scholarship to Germany this year. We’re going away in June,” he said.

“For my club team we won the treble and I also got lucky enough to play up a division for under-16s for my club team.”

Iskcon Gyawali in action for the South West Thunder. Picture: Bijay Gyawali

The German exchange scholarship will present Gyawali with a once in a lifetime opportunity which could catapult his development.

“I played in a tournament and they selected one person to get a scholarship to go to Germany and I was lucky enough to get it,” he said.

“We go to different clubs in Germany and we train there every day, we have clubs look at us play, get to play against different teams and get to experience what it’s like to be a footballer.

“We do get to watch some games over there too which is pretty good.”

Despite football and cricket being vastly different sports, competing in various codes has enabled him to take his game to the next level.

“With basketball and football, there’s different tactics that I can use in different areas of the game,” he said.

“Also with cricket you have to be pretty patient and it kind of helps in my football and futsal.

“I do think (playing different sports) definitely helps me learn different skills in different areas.”