National cricket captain Paras Khadka, footballer Jagjeet Shrestha, wushu player Jharana Gurung, track and field star Keshari Chaudhary and swimmer Shirish Gurung are the nominees for the popular player award. NSJF has claimed that it nominated the five players based on their popularity in society along with their performances.[break]
As the winner of the category would be decided by SMS voting and Facebook likes, the fans are campaigning for their favorite players. Paras Khadka is leading the contest in terms of Facebook likes while the organizers have kept the SMS vote count a secret. Wushu player Jharana Gurung has been getting good support from the wushu fraternity and her hometown Pokhara while footballer Shrestha is backed by football fans and his club Laxmi Bank Three Star Club. Likewise, Shirish Gurung is getting support from the swimming fraternity and young sports lovers while Keshari Chaudhary is supported by her departmental team Nepal Police.
National cricket team captain Khadka was in the limelight throughout the year. Under his captaincy, Nepal lifted the title of the ICC World Cricket League Division 4 and the ACC Trophy Elite last year. He scored 291 runs and took nine wickers in the ACC Trophy Elite while he was adjudged the man-of-the-series during the ACC T20 Cup for his 274 runs and 4 wickets that guided Nepal to second position.
A creative midfielder of Nepali football, Shrestha scored four goals and had three assists during the country´s top-tier A Division League. He was also adjudged the best midfielder of the league. He has featured in the national team regularly since March 2011 and has won 16 international caps. He also made three assists during the AFC Challenge Cup match against Northern Mariana Islands.
Wushu player Gurung ended Nepal´s medal drought 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 eighth 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.
Gurung is a swimming prodigy who broke six national records in 2069 BS at the tender age of 15. Among them, he set a new record in 1500m freestyle after 28 years. He also won 32 golds in the calendar year.
Athlete 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 38th National Athletics Championship held in late 2069 BS.
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