Wining starts for departmental teams

Published On: January 23, 2017 08:33 AM NPT By: Republica  | @RepublicaNepal


KATHMAND, Jan 23: Defending champion Tribhuvan Army Club and runner-up Nepal Police Club have made winning start to the Chief of Army Staff (CoAS) Second National Men’s Volleyball Tournament on Sunday. 

In the opening match of the tournament played in Army’s Physical Fitness and Sports Training Center, host team overcame the challenge of departmental rival Armed Police Club (APF) 25-15, 25-19, 25-20. Similarly in another match, Police registered straight sets win of 25-10, 25-17, 25-19 over Central Region. 

In the opening match of the last edition as well, Army had defeated APF. Army has fielded seven national players in this tournament. Army’s Skipper Hari Hajur Thapa, Spikers Man Bahadur Shrestha, Dhan Bahadur Bhatt, Bhuwan Karki, Bhairabh Bam, all-rounder Narendra Giri and libero Ishwar Thapa represented Nepal in AVC Central Zone Volleyball held in Bangladesh, a month back. 

Army’s captain Hari Hajur Thapa said that win over APF in an inauguration match has boosted the confidence of his team. 

“Our main opponents in domestic volleyball are APF and Police as both are studded with quality players. So winning against them is always big positive for us,” said Hari Hajur. 

“We don’t claim ourselves as number one team in the country but our aim in this tournament is to become champion. Our team has talented national players so I think we are good enough to win the trophy,” further added Army’s captain. 

Army had won gold medal with its young players at Seventh National Games medal defeating APF as its national team members were in international duty. Host Army will now take on Mid-Western Region in the next match on Monday. 

Police which is the most successful team in domestic volleyball has been struggling lately given its key spiker Sanjay Aryal has left club and another key player Chandra Kunwar was sidelined with injury. Chandra is now back in the team to help his team to make solid start in the tournament beating Central Region. 

Police used to be studded with national players until two years ago. 

But at this moment, Police has only three national members in its disposal. 

Police Captain Im Rana, Spikers Dev Sharma and Kul Bahadur Thapa are Nepal internationals. Police has fielded young spiker Dipak Joshi in the place of Sanjay Aryal who is currently out of the country while another new spiker Raju Sherchan also has came in Police’s side. 

Police skipper Im said that the coordination of the team is improving. “After Sanjay left the team the balanced of the team was affected but now young players are doing well in his absence,” said Im. 

In the other matches of the day, Western Region degfeated Far-Western Region 25-16, 16-25, 26-28, 18-25 while Eastern 

Region edeged past Mid-Western Region 25-17, 25-16, 25-14.


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