Kathmandu, September 2

Table tennis player Ivana Thapa Magar has been nominated for the People's Choice Award at the NSJF Pulsar Sports Awards 2081, scheduled for September 14 in Pokhara.

Currently ranked second in the national standings, the 17-year-old is regarded as one of the most promising players in Nepali table tennis. She entered the national team at the age of 13, setting a record as the youngest player to do so.

Ivana represented Nepal in the South Asian Olympic Qualifiers, where she reached the semifinals after defeating players from Bangladesh and Sri Lanka. Although she missed qualification, she now aims for the 2028 Los Angeles Olympics.

She later won silver in U-19 doubles at the South Asian Youth Table Tennis Championship in Sri Lanka and added four medals – two silver and two bronze – in the same event held in Nepal. Ivana also competed in the 27th Asian Table Tennis Championship in Kazakhstan, where she beat a home player, and took part in tournaments in Uzbekistan, Bahrain, Qatar, and South Korea, as well as the ISF School Olympics.

Ivana started her career seven years ago after being introduced to the sport by coach Purushottam Bajracharya and senior player Siksha Suwal while cycling near her home. She credits her coaches and international mentor Pavel Rehorek for her growth.

Her turning point came during the COVID-19 period, when missing an international tour pushed her to train harder at AVM Academy, which helped sharpen her skills for later success.

Ivana admits the nomination brings pressure. 'Four table tennis players have been nominated before me – Navita Shrestha, Shyantu Shrestha, Elina Maharjan, and Siksha Suwal – and all of them won. I want to continue that record,' she said.

She faces competition from footballer Rekha Paudel, cricketer Puja Mahato, volleyball player Himal Sunar and Wushu player Bijay Sinjali. The winner will be decided by votes – 50% through eSewa, 25% from Facebook, and 25% from journalists and coaches.