National cricket team skipper Paras Khadka leads the list of nominees, which also includes Nepal´s football sensation Jagjeet Shrestha, wushu player Jharana Gurung, teenage swimming prodigy Sirish Gurung and national record holder athlete Keshari Chaudhary. [break]
The players were selected on the basis of their year-long performances, achievements and their impact as well as their popularity with the public.
The player receiving the highest number of votes cast by fans will be declared the winner of the category. Sports enthusiasts can register their votes through SMS by typing the code of their favorite player and sending it to 3131. The organizer has also introduced voting through Facebook from this edition, for which one can go to www.facebook.com/nsjfaward and click on Like on the photos of the nominees.
The Facebook Likes will account for 20 percent of the total votes while SMS voting will carry 80 percent weightage in the final tally. Fans can vote for their favorite player(s) as many times as they like.
The winner of this award will receive a trophy, a certificate and a motorbike while the other nominees will also get gift hampers.
NSJF has signed a deal with THT Live 3131 for SMS voting. The main sponsor of the event is Hansraj Hulaschand and Company and the event will be aired live by Avenues Television. NSJF General Secretary Mahesh Acharya and Avenues Television General Manager Laxman Bastola signed a memorandum of understanding (MoU) to that effect on Sunday.
Similarly, Samsung, John Players, Hotel Royal Singhi, ISME Pvt Ltd are the co-sponsors of the event, which is one of the biggest sports awards in Nepal. National Sports Council has also pledged its support for the award.
This is the 13th edition of Pulsar Sports Award, which was started by NSFJ in 2053 BS and which is being held annually since 2060 BS. The other seven categories included in this year´s edition are Player of the Year (Male), Player of the Year (Female), Youth Player of the Year, Coach of the Year, Special Award, Lifetime Achievement Award and Para-athlete of the Year.
Here is a brief account of the nominated players
Paras Khadka (Cricket)
The national cricket team captain was in the limelight throughout the year. Under his captaincy, Nepal lifted the titles of ICC World Cricket League Division 4 and ACC Trophy Elite last year. He scored 291 runs and took nine wickets in the ACC Trophy Elite and was adjudged the man of the series during the ACC T20 Cup for his 274 runs and 4 wickets that guided Nepal to the second position.
“This award is a real honor for the Nepali athletes,” said Khadka. “I wish for the success of the event and I appeal to all of you to vote for any player you like, not just me,” he added.
Jagjeet Shrestha (Football)
A creative midfielder of Nepali football team, Shrestha scored four goals and had three assists in the country´s top-tier A Division League. He was also adjudged the best midfielder in the league. He has featured in the national team regularly since March 2011 and has won 16 caps with the squad. He also made three assists during the AFC Challenge Cup match against Northern Mariana Islands.
“I first heard about the Sports Award when I had just got enrolled at the ANFA Academy. I was just 13 then. Now I am 21 and it is a great pleasure to be nominated,” he said.
“Being nominated for the award has not only boosted my morale but also brought cheers to the entire football team at a time when it is going through a testing period,” he added.
Jharana Gurung (Wushu)
Gurung ended the medal drought for Nepal at the Asian level after 18 years. She is the first player to secure bronze in the Asian Wushu Championship since Kamala Lopchan finished third in the event 18 years ago. Gurung bagged bronze in the 56 kg sansau event during the eight edition of the Asian championship held in Vietnam last year. Although she didn´t win any bout, she made it to the semifinals after receiving a bye. The tie-sheet was drawn based on the rankings of the players.
“I recently won the Kaski Player of the Year award and now my nomination here has delighted the fans back in my hometown. I am quite glad about that,” said Gurung.
Sirish Gurung (Swimming)
Teenager Gurung is a swimming sensation. He broke six national records in 2069 BS at a tender age of 15. Among the records, he broke the 1500m freestyle record after 28 years. He also won 32 golds -- 10 at the 17th National Swimming Championship, 13 at the NSL Cup and 9 at the Pramod Memorial Championship -- during the year.
Keshari Chaudhary (Athletics)
Chaudhary wrote her name in the record books by breaking the national records in high jump, long jump, triple jump and 100 meters hurdles last year. Three of her four national records were set during the 28th National Athletics Championship held in late 2069 BS. She broke the national record in hurdles in her very first participation in the event.
“It is an honor to be nominated for the award,” she said.
For SMS voting, type pulsar <space> code and send it to 3131
Player Code
Paras Khadka (PK)
Jagjeet Shrestha (JS)
Jharana Gurung (JG)
Sirish Gurung (SG)
Keshari Chaudhary (KC)
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