Footballer Ananta Tamang, volleyball player Niruta Thagunna, karateka Biplav Lal Shrestha, table tennis player Sikka Suwal Shrestha and bodybuilder Rajani Shrestha are up for the peoples’ choice award under the annual Pulsar Sports Award, which is scheduled to be held on January 26.

Organiser Nepal Sports Journalist Forum (NSJF) unveiled the five nominees for the peoples’ choice award amid a programme in Kathmandu on Wednesday. The players have been nominated based on their achievements in their respective sports discipline and popularity.

The winner of the people’s choice award will be decided through eSewa votes, Facebook likes and points given by NSJF members and chief coaches of sports associations. The eSewa votes will have 50 percent weightage, Facebook likes carry 25 percent and the points given by coaches and NSJF members will carry 12.5 percent weightage each.

“The nominees for the player of the year male, female, youth, coach will be announced in a few days,” said NSJF President Durga Nath Subedi.

The winners of the five categories—will be rewarded with motorbikes.

There won't be nominations in other categories—para athlete, special and lifetime achievement awards. The winners will be directly revealed during the award ceremony and they will be rewarded with a purse of Rs50,000 each. NSJF will also honour international sports journalists with the Asian Sports Journalist Award during the function.

National footballer Tamang’s journey has been a story of success at the domestic level. Tamang led Church Boys United to Martyrs Memorial A-Division League trophy in their debut season, and also guided Lalitpur City to Nepal Super League trophy last year. He won the Golden Ball and the Most Valuable Player awards of the second edition of the Nepal Super League. Tamang is also one of the most decorated players of the Nepali football. The defender is known for his ability to consistently track opposition strikers till the last moment. He has 57 caps.

Karateka Shrestha won silver medal in the men’s kumite above 84kg category at the Shitoryu Karate International Championships held in September last year in Jakarta, Indonesia. Shrestha also reached closer to men’s 84kg bronze at the 19th Asian Games in Hangzhou, China.

Volleyball player Thagunna was a part of the Nepal squad that won the bronze medal in the CAVA Women's Challenge Cup held in May in Kathmandu last year.

Bodybuilder Shrestha won the gold medal at the 55th Asian Bodybuilding and Physique Sports Championship that concluded in Kathmandu in September last year.

Table tennis player Suwal Shrestha is the national champion and the winner of the Stag Global Champions League 2023.

NSJF partners with eSewa

The NSJF also signed eSewa as voting partner. NSJF President Subedi and eSewa Chief Business Officer Ashish Gautam exchanged the Memorandum of Understanding. Gautam shared that eSewa will provide a health package worth up to Rs 100,000 to all five nominees of the people’s choice award. The NSJF has joined hands with eSewa for the fourth consecutive year.

Hansaraj Hulaschand and Company (HH), the authorised distributor and producer of Bajaj Pulsar motorbikes in Nepal, is the chief sponsor of the sports award.