Kathmandu, June 15

National women’s volleyball team member Reshma Bhandari might not have won a lot of accolades for the nation, but she is definitely a star.

Her popularity during the national team and Nepal APF Club outings have won her a nomination in the People’s Choice category under the Pulsar Sports Award, slated for July 2 at Nepal Academy.

Already a star in social media, especially Tiktok, a platform for short videos, Bhandari is in the race along with cricketer Sandeep Lamichhane, footballer Sabitra Bhandari, badminton player Prince Dahal and bodybuilder Maheshwor Maharjan for the prestigious award. Volleyball has a rich history when it comes to winning the award with three spikers — Manju Gurung, Sipora Gurung and Ramila Tandukar — already claiming the awards.

The winner is decided by SMS votes along with Facebook likes and votes of head coaches of national sports associations and the members of the Nepal Sports Journalists Forum, the organiser of the award.

THT LIVE 37722 of APCA Nepal is the official voting partner of the award. And the winner will receive Pulsar NS160 motorcycle.

Bhandari was excited to find her name along with four others at the nominee's announcement ceremony and said the nomination was a dream come true. “I always wished to be a nominee in the award,” said Bhandari, who started playing volleyball while studying in the sixth standard.

Coach Kumar Rai honed her skills after Bhandari joined the New Diamond Academy — known for producing volleyball stars — in 2007.

Bhandari, who hails from Naikap, joined Nepal APF Club after completing her 10+2 studies and tasted all successes with the departmental side. She was a key member of the APF team that won 10 out of 11 tournaments in the last Nepali calendar year. Bhandari had made the national team debut in 2014 from the first South Asian Invitational Volleyball Tournament in Kathmandu.

The 16th edition of the Pulsar Sports Award, in association with Action Sports and powered by Gold Star, features 10 categories and winners of male, female, coach and people’s choice will receive Pulsar NS160 motorcycle each.

The youth, para-athlete, special, lifetime achievement, the team of the year and Asian journalist winners will get Rs 50,000 apiece.

NSJF has signed the title sponsorship deal with Hansraj Hulaschand and Company Limited — the authorised distributor of Pulsar motorcycles, while Nepal Olympic Committee, Surya Nepal, National Sports Council, Kelme Nepal, Avenues TV, Royal Singi Hotel, Timex and Emaging are the co-sponsors and partners of the programme.