Kathmandu, November 6

Newton High School of Baluwatar won the boys’ section title of the first PABSON U-18 National Volleyball Tournament here at the Dhorpatan Sports Training Club today.

In the final match, Newton thrashed Bungtang Volleyball Team of Nuwakot in straight sets. Newton thrashed Bungtang 25-20, 25-17, 25-17. The match was originally scheduled for Sunday but the organisers, Nepal School Volleyball Commission, postponed it for Monday as they could not hold the match on time because of controversies. Newton were leading 1-0 when the match was called off due to poor light.

The controversy started on Sunday after the organisers disqualified one of the two finalists, Sacred Heart School, in response to a protest filed by Three Star Academy. Sacred Heart had defeated Bungtang to enter the final. Reacting to the complaint filed by Three Star after their quarter-final match, the organisers expelled Sacred Heart for fielding over-age players.

As Sacred Heart were expelled from the tournament, the semi-final was played between Three Star and Bungtang with the latter emerging as victors to set final date encounter against Newton.

Following the final match, winners Newton and runners-up Bungtang received Rs 100,000 and Rs 60,000 respectively. Three Star and Little Buddha Academy of Kanchanpur were declared joint third and got Rs 35,000 each.

Newton’s Ajay Sunar was named the best player of the tournament and he received Rs 5,000.  Similarly, Newton trio of Chham Kumar Kunwar, Hari Gharti Magar and Om Prakash Ghimire were declared the best setter, blocker and server respectively. Bungtang’s Ashish Magar and Jahil Tamang were adjudged the best spiker and defender respectively. The individual award winners got Rs 3,000 each.

Nepal Volleyball Association President Manoranjan Raman Sharma, Secretary Jagadish Bhatta, NSVC President Ram Bahadur KC, Secretary Lokendra Bahadur Khadka among others handed over the prizes to the winners. NSVC informed that 24 players each in both sections would be picked up to form the U-18 national teams that will compete in international events next year.

A total of 39 teams, including 23 in boys’ and 16 in girls’ sections, competed in the tournament. New Diamond Academy won the girls’ section title on Sunday, while Everest Boarding School and Tops School were second and third respectively.