Spikers not happy with officials

Himalayan News Service

Kathmandu, April 26:

The players, who won gold medals at Pepsi Cup Beach Volleyball Tournament held in Bangladesh, blamed officials for the downfall of the sport. “Nobody in the association care about the sport,” said Bharat Bahadur Shah, a member of Men’s team that beat Bangladesh’s Border Rifle Team in the final. Prem Bahadur Bhandari was the other player of the team that represented Mahendra Police Club in the competition. “We went there, played and won the first-ever international medal in volleyball, but the association officials were indifferent to us,” said the players at a press meet today. The women’s team of Anju Shrestha and Manida Shah also won gold in the competition, but were not satisfied with the authorities. “The Nepal Volleyball Association even did not provide us the jerseys and other kits,” said the Anju and Manida, who represented Jawalakhel Volleyball Training Centre. Unlike men’s, this was Nepal’s second medal in beach volleyball. The women’s team won bronze medal in the same tournament last year. “The politics in the association is ruining the sport,” said the players, who blamed the authorities of not being ‘active’ in the development of volleyball. “They (officials) even hide invitations that come from international tournaments,” said Shah. “Few officials came at the airport, put garlands around our necks and left,” said the players.