Nepal lost the opening match against India
Rekha S of India hits a shot while Saraswoti Chaudhary of Nepal makes an attempt to block the shot during a volleyball friendly match between Nepal and India at Dashrath Stadium, Kathmandu on Thursday.
Nepali women’s volleyball team lost the opening of the two-match friendly series against India at the National Sports Council on Thursday.
The visitors registered a 3-0 victory in the first match organised by the Nepal Volleyball Association to inaugurate the mat provided by FIVB.
India won the match 25- 20, 25-19 and 27-25 at the National sports Council’s covered hall.
Nepal skipper Binita Budhathoki rued her decision of not give spike to Pratibha Mali in the final moments of third set. “As she was being targeted, I decided not to give her the spike. But it proved costly,” Binita said of Mali, who had won two points from 22-all in the third set. Mali top scored n the match with 26 points, while Aruna Shahi was a distant second with seven and Saraswati Chaudhary earned six.
Nepal coach Sudesh Kumar Rimal lauded his team’s overall performance. “This is our best performance against India on home soil. We played to our potential but lost the match as the opponents outplayed us in jumping and spiking,” said Rimal. “And we are also less experienced than the Indian players.”
India coach Vaishali Fadtare also praised Nepali players’ performance. “They have improved a lot compared to previous matches,” said Fadtare about Nepali players.
“They lost it because of lack of experience and the team also had a poor defending and blocking,” Fadtare said.
She also lauded Nepal’s spiker. “Number 11 (Pratibha Mali) was so impressive. Nepal should nurture her talent.”
Indian captain Poornima MS was happy with the team’s performance and shared that the competition was tough. “Nepal gave tough challenge but we played well and registered victory,” she said.
Nepal will play the second friendly on Friday in the same venue.
