Kathmandu, September 5 Footballer Kiran Kumar Limbu, shuttler Ratnajit Tamang, cricketer Sharad Vesawkar, athlete Som Bahadur Kumal and spiker Man Bahadur Shrestha are in the race to become the Player of the Year (Male) in the NSJF Pulsar Sports Award. The Nepal Sports Journalists Forum will announce the winner of the category during the award ceremony slated for September 11 but the nominees were at their best last year as they brought delight and moment of cheer for the nation and the people. The winner of the category will get a Bajaj Pulsar NS160 motorbike along with gift hampers from Dish Home, Surya Nepal, Horizon Carpets and Sahas Sports. Goalkeeper Limbu saved three spot kicks to help national football team win the AFC Solidarity Cup in Malaysia, while he was also the key member of the TC Sports Club of Maldives that won the Sheikh Kamal International Club Cup in Bangladesh. Badminton player Tamang, who teamed up with his sister Nangsal, won the mixed doubles gold medal in Pakistan International Series to bring first ever gold for the nation. He also dominated domestic events including seventh National Games where he won gold medals in the men’s singles, doubles, mix doubles and team events. Likewise, national cricket team’s batting allrounder Vesawkar played an important role for the team. He scored half centuries in two matches of ICC World Cricket League Championship against Namibia and bagged four wickets when Nepal defeated Kenya. Vesawkar registered another half century against Hong Kong in the ACC Emerging Teams Cup in Bangladesh. Athlete Kumal won gold medal in 400m and silver medal in 800m races in Brunei Open Athletics Championship to underline his name as a new star in athletics. He also bagged gold medals in 400m, 800m and 4X400m relay during the seventh National Games. Nepal men’s national volleyball team ended the barren run in international arena and Shrestha was the best outside attacker as the side won bronze in the AVM Central Zone Volleyball Tournament in Maldives. He also helped Tribhuvan Army Club win four gold medals in domestic tournaments.