KATHMANDU, MAY 28
India won the title of the NSC-CAVA Women's Challenge Cup, while home team Nepal finished third here at the National Sports Council covered hall today.
India defeated Kazakhstan in straight sets in the final of the tournament. India took the first set 21-15 before winning the competitive second set 25-22.India sealed the victory and gold medal with a 25-13 win in the third set. Kazakhstan were limited to silver medal.
Earlier, Nepal beat Uzbekistan 3-1 to bag bronze medal. Nepal, who had bagged gold medals in the last two editions of the AVC Women's Central Zone Volleyball Challenge Cup, lost to Kazakhstan in the semi-finals and they were forced to play for bronze medal against Uzbekistan, who lost to India in the last four clash.
The home team lost the first set 25-20 but bounced back strongly to win the next three sets. Nepal levelled the scored with a 25- 16 victory in the second set and took a 2-1 lead with a 25-15 win in the third set.
The hosts - who were in a similar situation with Kazakhstan in the semi-final match before losing the last two sets to crash out - did not let Uzbekistan come back in the match and took the fourth set 25-13.
Four other teams - Sri Lanka, Kyrgyzstan, Maldives and Bangladesh - finished from fourth to eighth respectively in the tournament.
Nepal's Salina Shrestha was named the best libero of the tournament. India bagged four individual awards - Most Valuable Player, best setter, first best middle blocker and second best outside hitter, while Kazakhstan took two - first best outside hitter and best opposite player.
Uzbekistan win the second best middle blocker award.
A total of eight teams took part in the tournament which was organised by Nepal Volleyball Association under the auspices of National Sports Council.
A version of this article appears in the print on May 29, 2023, of The Himalayan Times.
