KATHMANDU, June 21: Sher Bahadur Memorial Foundation has felicitated New Diamond Academy's volleyball player Pratibha Mali and Coach Kumar Rai on Wednesday.

Organizing a function in the capital, the foundation felicitated national Mali and Rai with Rs 50,000 and Rs 25,000 respectively. 

According to the foundation, Mali was felicitated for continuing the outstanding volleyball career alongside her studies while Rai was rewarded for nurturing volleyball talents. Mali who is also a key member of the national women's volleyball team scored 3.5 GPA in the Secondary Education Examination (SEE) recently, from New Diamond Academy. Rai is New Diamond Aacademy's founder and coach since more than a decade.
 
“Pratibha has been continuing her playing career and education side by side, and we want her to continue this in the future as well. So to help her in doing so we felicitated her with cash,” said the foundation's president Ranjan Khadka. 

“Rai has played important role in nurturing Nepali volleyball talents that is why we feted him,” added Khadka.
 
Speaking at the function, Mali said that she is committed to continuing her playing career and study side by side. 

Meanwhile Rai said the corporate sector needs to invest in the development and promotion of volleyball. “Good investment is needed at school-level volleyball in order to develop the game, so support also from the corporate sector will be crucial,” said Rai.
 
The foundation's president Khadka, Kansai Nerolac Paints Ltd (KNPL)'s Nepal Director Manoj Mishra, Shivam Cements Private Limited's Surendra Kumar Goel among others felicitated Mali and Rai.  

 
• sher bahadur memorial foundation
 
• new diamond academy
 
• pratibha mali
 
• kumar rai