Kathmandu, February 26

Tribhuvan Army Club won the title of the CoAS first National Men’s Volleyball Tournament with a straight set victory over Nepal Police Club here at the Nepali Army Sports Complex today.

TAC ‘A’ defeated NPC 25-19, 25-13, 25-21 in the departmental clash. The hosts earned Rs 300,000, while runners-up NPC pocketed Rs 150,000. Earlier, TAC ‘B’ beat Nepal APF Club 3-1 in the third-place playoff match to earn Rs 75,000.

The Armymen also claimed five individual section awards, while NPC got one. Dhana Bahadur Bhatta was declared the best player of the tournament and received a 150cc Pulsar bike. Man Bahadur Shrestha (spiker), Ishwor Thapa (defender), Bhairav Bam (blocker), Kapil Kishor Shrestha (coach) were the other TAC squad members to win individual awards, while Em Bahadur Rana of NPC was named the best lifter. They earned Rs 10,000 each.

Chief of the Army Staff Rajendra Chhetri, Nepal Olympic Committee President Jeevan Ram Shrestha, Chief Executive of Golchha Organisation Shekhar Golchha and Nepal Volleyball Association President Dan Bahadur Tamang handed over the prizes to the winners.

TAC coach Kapil Kishor Shrestha said his boys were technically and physically strong than the opponents. “We made a positive start and our spikers and blockers performed well today,” said Shrestha. NPC coach Saroj KC said the team missed the services of five players who were injured. “We could not perform as expected because of the injury. And team lacked coordination with the inclusion of new players,” KC said.

Meanwhile, Nepali Army felicitated South Asian Games gold medal winning football team goalkeeper Bikesh Kuthu with Rs 50,000. CoAS Gen Chhetri handed over Rs 50,000 to Kuthu. The NA had last week honoured the regional games medallists and Kuthu was in Hetaunda with the Tribhuvan Army Club.