Kathmandu: The Nepal national women’s volleyball team’s quest for their first major international trophy on home soil was shattered once again as they narrowly lost to India 3-2 in the final of the CAVA Women’s Volleyball Nations League at the National Sports Council covered hall in Kathmandu on Wednesday.
This was the second time Nepal faced India in a title match at home, the last being during the 13th South Asian Games in 2019.
India twice came from behind to dominate the fifth and deciding set, ultimately securing a 23-25, 25-14, 22-25, 25-21, 15-5 victory against Nepal.
In the first set, Nepal was trailing 23-20, but Saraswati Chaudhary’s piercing spikes earned them five straight points, taking a 1-0 lead.
In the second set, India bounced back strongly and secured a comfortable 25-14 win. In the third set, Nepal showed strong defense, winning the set 25-22.
In the fourth set, both teams showed strong defense and attack, but India eventually took the set 25-21. In the decisive fifth set, India showed its character as it continuously rattled Nepal’s defenses, taking the set 15-5.
This was the 11th encounter between Nepal and India since the eighth South Asian Games in 1999, held in Kathmandu.
Nepal has only won once against India as the host beat their southern neighbor 3-2 in the group stage 25-18, 12-25, 25-17, 18-25, 15-13 in the league stage to register their first-ever victory over their South Asian rivals on Saturday.
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