Kathmandu, July 20 Nepal Volleyball Association reached an agreement with Nepal Satellite Telecom for the sponsorship of fifth Asian Central Zone Senior Men’s Volleyball Tournament. Chairperson of Nepal Satellite Telecom Asmita Sumargi handed over a cheque of two million rupees to NVA President Manoranjan Raman Sharma at a programme today. As per the agreement, Nepal Satellite Telecom will be one of the co-sponsors of the tournament to be organised by NVA under the auspices of Asian Volleyball Confederation. A total of seven teams — Nepal, Bangladesh, Maldives, Afghanistan, Kyrgyzstan, Turkmenistan and Uzbekistan — have confirmed their participation in the tournament slated for August 17-25 at the Nepal Army Sports Complex in Lalitpur, informed NVA General Secretary Jitendra Bahadur Chand. “We are hosting the AVC-sanctioned tournament for the first time and we are committed to make it a grand success,” he added. NVA President Manoranjan Raman Sharma thanked the Nepal Satellite Telecom for the generous support to organise the international tournament. “Volleyball is the national game but the government’s attitude towards the sport is indifferent,” said Sharma. “We even do not have a covered hall to conduct tournaments and we are tired of knocking the doors of authorities,” he added. Sharma said the association was heavily dependent on the support from corporate houses in organising the first-ever international tournament of AVC calendar — the fifth Asian Central Zone Senior Men’s Volleyball Tournament. “We cannot even imagine of organising any event without the support of private sector and I urge the sports lovers to join hands to make the tournament a grand success,” added Sharma. Nepal Satellite Telecom Chairman Sumargi said the hosting of international tournament was a matter of pride for the country and everyone should join hands with NVA for the cause. “We are going to welcome players and officials from six international teams to our country,” said Sumargi. “I would like to salute NVA President Sharma and his team for bringing in such a big event in the country. The Nepal Satellite Telecom is always there for the sport and I urge others to join hands with NVA for the tournament,” she added.