National women volleyball team captain Aruna Shahi's parents – father Kubir Shahi and mother Kamala Shahi — were not sure if their daughter was heading into the right direction when she decided to take up sports.

But the narrative changed once she represented Nepal in the international stage and gained nation-wide fame. "Our daughter has increased the whole family's prestige," the national volleyball team captain recalled her parents telling her.

The past 2076 BS will be remembered in Nepali sports as the year of the 13th South Asian Games (SAG) which Nepal hosted. There are many success stories in the game and one of the touching tales is about the silver bagged by the national women volleyball team.

Though many big achievements in the Games were shadowed under the spark of gold, volleyball still grabbed the limelight. It is not just the national game of Nepal, but one of the most popular sports played throughout the country. Women’s volleyball is also very popular.

The achievements in the past Nepali year also shed light to the fact that the game has high potential in the country. Besides silver in the SAG, Nepali women’s team also claimed gold in the AVC Central Zone Women's Volleyball Championship. It is the biggest achievement Nepali women have ever witnessed.

In both achievements of women’s volleyball in the past year, Shahi played an influential role as captain and setter of the team. Shahi is a familiar face in the women’s team and the 27-year-old has dedicated more than half of her age – 14 years – to the game.

After her back to back successes, not just Shahi's parents but the whole villages of Raghu Ganga Rural Municipality are proud of her achievement. Breaking the geographic limitations, she has earned nation-wide fame.

Shahi is one of the five nominees for the Peoples' Choice Award of the annual NSJF Pulsar Sports Award, the biggest award ceremony of Nepali sports fraternity, set to take place on January 12 in Lalitpur. Swimmer Gaurika Singh, karateka Manday Kaji Shrestha, footballer Sabitra Bhandari and basketball captain Sadina Shrestha are the other nominees.

In the SAG's volleyball final, Nepal lost the gold medal clash despite leading the first two sets. The emotional Nepali team cried in the court. "Losing the final despite winning the first two sets was like being deprived of a meal that was at our hands," said Shahi.

Though a year has passed since the SAG volleyball final, every incident of the final revolves in her mind. "I wish we could turn the clock back and play the last three sets again, so we win the decisive clash."

An introvert, Shahi, however, has to speak often due to her role as captain. But she does not hesitate to say: "Volleyball is my first love."

She came into the watchful eyes of coach Kaushila Khatri at her teenage while competing in the Birendra Shield almost one and a half decades ago. After that she landed at Gyanu Baba School in Pokhara that was famous for girls' volleyball.

Shahi is now vying in the Peoples' Choice Award where the winner will be selected on the basis of votes received through eSewa, Facebook likes, votes from organiser Nepal Sports Journalists Forum members and chief coaches of sports associations.