Kathmandu, May 12

Santoo Shrestha is just 18-year-old but the young sensation has already established himself as a dominant force in Nepali table tennis.

Shrestha almost clean swept national level tournaments last season. He bagged three titles in four national level tournaments and faced defeat in only match in around three dozen matches in the previous season.

The Nepal Police Club player Shrestha, who also remained unbeaten in national team selection event for the Asian Games, won gold medals in singles, doubles and team events in the 39th National Table Tennis Tournament. He also won singles and team event titles in the Thamel Open Championship. His lone defeat came in the final of the ninth Purnaman Memorial Open Table Tennis Tournament.

The achievements of Shrestha in domestic front have earned him nomination in the People’ Choice Award category of the NSJF Pulsar Sports Award slated for May 17 at the Army Officers Club. Shrestha is in race with volleyball player Man Bahadur Shrestha, footballer Kiran Chemjong, cricketer Sandeep Lamichhane and golfer Pratima Sherpa. Fellow table tennis player Nabita Shresha had won the award two years ago.

The People’s Choice Award is decided by SMS votes, Facebook likes and votes from the members of the Nepal Sports Journalists Forum and coaches of 35 sports disciplines which were included in the seventh National Games.

People’s Choice is one of the eight categories in the Pulsar Sports Award with Player of the year Male, Female, Youth, Coach, Para-athlete, Special and Lifetime Achievement being others. Winners of the Male, Female, Coach and People’s Choice categories will receive Pulsar NS160 motorcycle each, while other winners will earn Rs 50,000 apiece along with gift hampers.