Kathmandu, May 11

Spiker Man Bahadur Shrestha has become a household name in volleyball fraternity.

Ever since it was declared the national sport, Nepal Volleyball Association has intensified the activities and the players are busy in participating tournaments across the nation.

And Shrestha has been the star inside the court in national and international events. The Tribhuvan Army Club skipper Shrestha led his team to three titles in domestic front — NSC Championship, NVA National Volleyball Tournament and CoAS Cup. He was also named the best player in the NSC Championship and NVA National Volleyball Tournament, while he won the best spiker’s award in the CoAS Cup.

Shrestha also shone on foreign soil when Nepal national team played friendly matches against Hong Kong and Macau. He has always been the centre of attraction in the national team’s outings. And the achievements in national and international events have earned him the nomination in the People’s Choice category of the 15th edition of the NSJF Pulsar Sports Award slated for May 17 at the Nepal Army Officers Club.

Shrestha has already earned name and fame. And he is in race with footballer Kiran Chemjong, table tennis player Santoo Shrestha, cricketer Sandeep Lamichhane and golfer Pratima Sherpa to win the coveted award. Volleyball players Manju Gurung, Sipora Gurung and Saraswoti Chaudhary have won the award previously.

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.