Kathmandu: Wushu player Bijay Sinjali and football star Rekha Paudel are among five athletes nominated for the people’s choice award in the annual NSJF Pulsar Sports Award 2081, unveiled in Kathmandu on Sunday.

Joining them on the shortlist are table tennis player Evana Thapa, volleyball player Himal Sunari and cricketer Puja Mahato. The winner among them will be decided through voting.

The Award ceremony will take place on September 14 in Pokhara.  

Nepal Sports Journalists Forum (NSJF) announced the nominees at a press conference in Kathmandu and also signed digital wallet IME Khalti as the official voting partner. NSJF President Niranjan Adhikari and IME Khalti’s Chief Commercial Officer Ashish Gautam inked the agreement.

NSJF player’s selection committee coordinated by Secretary Anil Malla Thakuri picked the players.

According to NSJF secretary Anjan Khadka, the nomination in the people’s choice award  was made on the basis of players performances, media coverage and fan following.

Voting is already open on IME Khalti, Facebook pages of NSJF Pulsar Sports  Award and Pulsar Nepal.

Khalti voting will have 50 percent weightage, Facebook voting 25 percent while points allocated by coaches and NSJF members will have 12.5 percentage weightage each.

The winner will receive a Pulsar motorbike. Volleyball player Kabita Bhatta was the winner of the last edition of peoples’ choice award.

The Sports Award ceremony will see sports persons honored in 10 different categories including male and female player of the year, youth player and coach of the year, para-athlete award, special award, lifetime achievement, team of the year, and Asian sports journalist award.

The winners of male and female player of the year, youth player and coach of the year will receive a Pulsar Motorbike and the winners of other categories will get purse of Rs100,000 each.

Golchha Group is the main sponsor for the Sports Award while Pokhara Metropolitan City has partnered as the promoter of the event that is being organized for the first time outside Kathmandu.

Nominees and their achievements

Bijay Sinjali (Wushu)

The bronze medalist at the Taolu World Cup in Japan and the gold winner at World Combat Championship in Saudi Arabia, as well as a former South Asian Games gold and silver medalist.

Evana Thapa (Table Tennis)

The winner of four medals at the South Asian Championship, semifinalist at the Olympic Qualifiers and gold medalist at the junior and masters event.

Himal Sunari (Volleyball)

The standout performer in domestic leagues and tournaments, including the NVL and Tiger Cup, and one of the most popular volleyball players among Nepali fans.

Puja Mahato (Cricket)

The captain of Nepal’s U-19 women’s team that qualified for the World Cup, first Nepali woman to score a century in age group international cricket, and top run scorer in the Asia qualifiers.

Rekha Paudel (Football)

The first Nepali to feature in the AFC Women’s Champions League, a decisive scorer for Abu Dhabi Country Club and top scorer at the 2024 SAFF Championship with seven goals.