Man Bahadur Shrestha (ne|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]
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]
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 [2]
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]
Shrestha is married to Lisa Thapa, a fellow volleyball player. They have a daughter.[1]
In 2024, he announced retirement from the national team and aim to pursue career as a referee.[3]