Man Bahadur Shrestha
Man Bahadur Shrestha (Nepali: मान बहादुर श्रेष्ठ) is a Nepali volleyball player and has played as captain of Nepali volleyball squad. His most significant international achievement came in 2016 when Nepal's men's volleyball team, with Shrestha as a crucial member, won a bronze medal at the Asian Central Zone Volleyball Championship in the Maldives. This was the first international medal for Nepal's men's volleyball team in 42 years. Shrestha was also honored with the title of "Best Outside Hitter" during the competition.[1]
Early life
[edit]Man Bahadur Shrestha faced a challenging childhood as his father abandoned his mother when he was just 15 days old, leading him to be raised by his maternal family. Initially passionate about cricket, his interest shifted to volleyball during his school years. He began his volleyball journey in 2008 under the guidance of his coach Nirajan Mahato, whom he credits as his first mentor.[1]
Volleyball career
[edit]Shrestha's early success in school-level volleyball competitions earned him recognition, and he was selected for the Western Regional Team, where he trained under Japanese coach Shigeru Nemoto. By 2011, he had joined Nepal's national team and debuted internationally in the 2015 Asian Central Zone Volleyball Championship in Bangladesh.[1] He was appointed national captain in 2080 BS (2023-2024)[2]
Career in Nepal Police and Nepal Army Club
[edit]In 2015, Shrestha was appointed as a member of Nepal Police team.[1]
In 2017, Shrestha permanently joined Nepal Army and captained the volleyball team of Nepal Army Club, leading the team to victory in three major national competitions: the National Championship, the Chief of Army Staff Cup, and the Nepal Volleyball Cup. His leadership and consistent performance earned him several awards, including the "Best Spiker" and "Best Player" titles in various tournaments.[1]
Personal life
[edit]Shrestha is married to Lisa Thapa, a fellow volleyball player. They have a daughter.[1]
Retirement
[edit]In 2024, he announced retirement from the national team and aim to pursue career as a referee.[3]
Awards
[edit]- People's Choice Award at the Pulsar Sports Awards [1]
- Players of the year in 2017 by Nepal Volleyball Association (NVA) [4][5]
- Various local awards.[6]
References
[edit]- ^ a b c d e f g शर्मऋग्वेद. "मानबहादुर, जसले नेपाली भलिबललाई जगाए".
- ^ "मानबहादुर श्रेष्ठ नेपाली भलिबल टिमको नयाँ कप्तान". Online Khabar. Retrieved 2024-10-23.
- ^ "भलिबल कप्तान मानबहादुरले लिए सन्न्यास". Online Khabar. Retrieved 2024-10-23.
- ^ "Shrestha, Mali win NVA awards". Retrieved 2024-10-23.
- ^ Sen, Sandeep (2018-01-23). "Spikers Shrestha, Mali claim NVA Awards". The Himalayan Times. Retrieved 2024-10-23.
- ^ "त्रिभुवन आर्मी क्लबले जित्यो भलिबलको उपाधि". GorakhaPatra. Retrieved 2024-10-23.